MP comments on Better Care Together health strategy

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today commented on the release of the Better Care Together health review, saying that 'vague words must now be turned into concrete proposals'.

'Better Care Together' is a review of local health services. The 'Better Care Together' review is being carried out by NHS organisations including Lancashire North Clinical Commissioning Group, Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals in Lancaster, Barrow and Kendal.

Commenting on the report, Tim said: "Given that 80% of all surgery is day case surgery, the announcement that Westmorland General Hospital could become the centre for all day surgery across the Bay, would be spectacular news for our hospital. It would be a once in a generation opportunity to reinvigorate Westmorland General meaning that - alongside the promise of radiotherapy - we could be about to see the biggest boost to our hospital since it was built. But the Trust must now turn these promising words into a concrete proposal that we can believe in.

"But any plans to reduce elective in patient surgery, I will strongly oppose. Better Care Together will only work with the support of our community. The trust will not get that support if they reduce elective inpatient surgery at Westmorland General Hospital."

The Better Care Together strategy can be found here: http://www.bettercaretogether.co.uk/