Lib Dems call for action after one in eight people revealed to be on NHS hospital waiting list in North Cumbria

Local Lib Dem campaigners Tim Farron and Julia Aglionby have slammed the Conservatives for neglecting our local NHS after it was revealed that more than one in eight people in North Cumbria are currently on a hospital waiting list.

Shocking new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats shows that 43,351 patients in North Cumbria were on an NHS waiting list – 13% of the population.

Meanwhile in Morecambe Bay, the situation is just as bad with 40,588 people waiting for treatment – 11.4% of the population.

Separate ONS figures show that a record high 2.6 million people are inactive across the country are out of work due to long-term sickness, up from two million in 2019.

The Liberal Democrats have set out a plan to fix the crisis in the NHS and in care, including giving people a legal right to see their GP within seven days, increasing the Carer’s Minimum Wage to tackle soaring vacancies, and giving people a guarantee to begin cancer treatment within 62 days of being diagnosed.

Tim said: “People in Cumbria are being left waiting in pain for treatment and unable to work, but it seems Conservative ministers just don’t care.

“The Prime Minister promised to bring down the NHS backlog but it’s only got bigger. For the Conservatives, it’s just the latest in a long string of broken promises on the NHS, alongside broken promises to recruit 6,000 more GPs and build 40 new hospitals.

Julia, who is standing as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for the new Penrith and Solway seat added: “From Alston to Maryport, from Keswick to Burgh-by-Sands, tens of thousands of people are being made to suffer because of the mismanagement by the Conservatives.

“A key reason behind these intolerable waiting lists is the failure of our social care system. Hospitals discharges are being blocked because due to the severe shortage of care provisions.

“We are committed to providing free social care allowing patients to return home rather than taking up hospital beds that are in such short supply.”