MP calls on public to help save vascular surgery centre

South Lakes MP, Tim Farron has called on the public to 'make their voice' heard over proposals to remove vascular services from Morecambe Bay. Vascular surgery is regularly needed in emergency cases immediately following heart attacks or strokes and Tim feels that the removal of this service will put lives at risk.

A regional review of vascular services across the Northwest has put together the proposals which will centralise services to only three sites at Preston, Blackburn andCarlisle. These sites will be expected to cover the entire geography ofLancashire,Cumbriaand in addition parts of Greater Manchester andSouthwest Scotland.

Tim has also written to the Chief Executives of both NHS Cumbria and NHS North Lancashire to raise his concerns over plans put together by the review team for both trusts, to remove all vascular surgery services from University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

These plans would remove services at Lancaster Royal Infirmary, leaving patients acrossSouth Cumbriain a very vulnerable situation.

The 25th September is the date when commissioners meet to ratify the decision. Tim is calling on local residents to fill in the survey below to make sure their voice is heard: The survey online can be found here: www.feedbacksurveys.org.uk/vascularservices

Commenting Tim said: "The plans to remove all vascular surgery from Morecambe Bay is extremely concerning and I am very worried about the risk this might pose to people across the south of Cumbria.

"With at least fifty per cent of all vascular surgery being for urgent and emergency conditions, ensuring short journey times could be 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, or in difficult geographical locations in unnecessary jeopardy.

"It is absolutely vital that we do all we can to protect our vascular services at Morecambe Bay and I will be doing everything I can to fight these plans."