MP demands action after huge rise in people waiting more than 12 hours to be seen at A&E in Morecambe Bay
New analysis from the Liberal Democrats has revealed that 4,423 people have waited a staggering 12 hours in A&E in South Cumbria and North Lancashire in the past year.
The NHS figures analysed by the House of Commons Library for the Liberal Democrats from 2021 and 2022 show thousands of people waiting in A&E in Morecambe Bay.
Comparing 2021 to 2022, the total increase in 12 hour admissions waiting was 3,487 or 373%.
Meanwhile in North Cumbria, the picture is even more bleak.
In 2021, the number of people waiting 12 hours to be seen at A&E in Carlisle or Whitehaven was 187. In 2022, that number was 4,947, an increase of 2,545%.
In Cumbria as a whole, the number of patients waiting 4 hours in 2022 was 76,370 compared to 48,425 in 2021.
Nationally, four in five areas in England saw the number of 12-hour waits at A&E quadruple last year.
Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has slammed the Government for allowing the "devastating delays", and called for an urgent plan to tackle staff shortages. The Liberal Democrats are also calling for a 'Carer's Minimum Wage,' £2 above the minimum wage, to tackle shortages in the social care sector that are contributing to overcrowded hospitals and record delays at A&E.
Tim said: "These devastating delays are leaving far too many patients across Cumbria waiting in pain and in fear for the treatment they deserve.
"For years the Government has ignored repeated warnings about the pressures facing the NHS and care, allowing the situation to go from bad to worse. This crisis means far too many people are now terrified of getting sick or injured because they don't know if the NHS will be there when they need it.
"The Government needs to come up with a proper plan to tackle chronic staff shortages, instead of allowing our health and care services to lurch from crisis to crisis.
"Liberal Democrats are calling for funding to support more GPs and social care workers, especially in rural areas like ours so people can be cared for at home where needed instead of being stranded in hospital."