Farron wins Prime Minister's support in bid for Radiotherapy at Westmorland General Hospital

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has secured an agreement from the Prime Minister David Cameron that he will intervene to help secure a radiotherapy unit for Westmorland General Hospital.

Speaking in Prime Ministers Questions at lunchtime today, Tim welcomed the fact that Westmorland General had been identified as a site for a new radiotherapy unit, but raised concerns over the need for flexibility over the tariff for providing radiotherapy in order to deliver this vital service. In response Mr Cameron agreed to arrange a meeting between Tim and the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and to help find a way to achieve a radiotherapy unit in Kendal.

Tim's campaign to bring full cancer treatment services to the South Lakes has meant that Westmorland General Hospital now has a Chemotherapy Centre, but the efforts cannot stop there and Tim is aiming to secure a radiotherapy unit too .

Last year over 2,000 people marched through Kendal to hand over a petition calling for the service to be brought to the South Lakes.

Commenting Tim said: "I'm extremely pleased that the Prime Minister recognises what an important issue this is and how much difference this will make to cancer patients across the South of Cumbria.

"For patients being treated for cancer, the fact that they have to travel outside of South Lakeland to get treatment is an added burden. Our campaign to win a Radiotherapy Unit for Westmorland General Hospital will allow patients to no longer have to travel debilitating distances and instead be close to friends and family at a time when they most need their support.

"I look forward to working with the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary over the comings weeks to ensure that there is flexibility in the tariff price so that we can move to the next stage of bringing radiotherapy services to the South Lakes."