MP makes final plea to health bosses not to cut Kendal’s overnight GP service

This week, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron urged bosses from the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board to not allow a controversial move to cut the out-of-hours GP service from Westmorland General Hospital.

From Monday October 2nd, Cumbria Health on Call (CHoC) will run a ‘pilot period’ until January where they no longer have a doctor based in Kendal from 2am-8am on Tuesdays, Wednesday or Thursdays.

Instead, the out-of-hours doctors will be based at the Furness General Hospital in Barrow and Penrith & Eden Community Hospital.

This will mean significantly increased travel times for doctors to treat patients in the South Lakes.

Last month, Tim presented a petition to CHoC signed by hundreds of local residents calling for the plans to be axed.

Tim said: “I’m deeply disappointed that CHoC have taken this step and I fear for the quality of service they will provide to vulnerable people including those needing palliative care.

“That’s why I am making a final appeal to senior health bosses to block this cut to our local health services.

“It’s really important - if CHOC insist on doing this pilot cut - that local residents make their voices heard so please do get in touch and let me know about your experiences.”