MP calls Cumbrian councillors to save vascular services after Lancashire vote to move centre
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on Cumbrian councillors to be the 'last line of defence' to keep vascular services at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.
Yesterday councillors from Lancashire voted 9-4 to move specialist vascular surgery away from the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.The Committee resolved to support the proposals but have asked the NHS to monitor the impact of the service changes on the residents of South Cumbria and report back to the Joint Health Committee in 12-18 months time with their findings
Now Cumbrian councillors have to vote on the plan. The next meeting of Cumbria's Health Scrutiny Committee is on 31st January at 10am.
Tim said: "With at least fifty per cent of all vascular surgery being for urgent and emergency conditions, ensuring short journey times could make all the difference between a surgeon being able to save a patient's limbs or even their lives. By removing services from Lancaster, the Cumbria and North Lancashire NHS trusts would be putting the lives of those who live in more isolated communities and difficult geographical locations in unnecessary jeopardy.
"Cumbrian councillors are now the last line of defence - they must either reject the plan or pass the decision to the Secretary of State. Their voters who they face in this May's elections will not forgive them if they don't."