‘Massive waiting times for people with hearing problems shows Government is once again short-changing South Cumbria’ – MP

Local MP Tim Farron has urged the Government to provide extra funding to South Cumbria's hospitals after new figures revealed people with hearing problems are having to wait up to a year for tests.

According to Morecambe Bay Hospitals Trust, the average waiting time for audiology services at Westmorland General Hospital is around 11 months, with over 500 local people currently sat on the waiting list.

Elsewhere in the area, there are 372 patients on the waiting list at Royal Lancaster Infirmary, and 187 patients at Furness General Hospital, both with a waiting time of around six months.

These figures are in stark contrast with the rest of the country where the average time for a hearing test is just under five weeks.

According to the Trust, audiology staffing levels are currently operating at 10-15% below their target staffing levels at all three local hospitals.

Tim has written to the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, calling for more funding to tackle this crisis.

Tim said: "Hundreds of local people who need important hearing tests are being massively let down.

"The Government need to stop the heavy cuts to our hospitals and start providing the resources we need so people with hearing problems can be seen in a reasonable time.

"South Cumbria is once again being given a raw deal by the Conservatives."