MP pushes Prime Minister to protect our hospital

South Lakes MP Tim Farron today used Prime Ministers Question's to demand David Cameron protect Westmorland General Hospital.

Tim asked the Prime Minister to protect the hospital on the back of news that hospital bosses were looking at 'gifting' the Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) to a social enterprise. Two whistle-blowers said that they believe: "Social enterprise is a euphemism for private companies like Circle who already run one NHS hospital in Hinchingbrooke [in Cambridge]."

Over 3,000 local residents have joined the campaign in less than a week. Tim said he has been 'overwhelmed' by the massive reaction to his campaign to protect our much loved local hospital. Tim is asking local residents to keep signing the petition.

Tim has also sent a letter NHS bosses asking them to give clarity and reassurances to local residents over the claims that Westmorland General will be closed, transferred to another trust or given to a private health provider. Responding to Tim's question, the Prime Minister agreed to look into the matter.

Following Prime Minister's Questions, Tim said: "I am grateful that the Prime Minister has agreed to my demand to look into the situation at Westmorland General Hospital. I am deeply disturbed by these proposals to 'gift' our hospital to a private company or to remove services. I hope the Prime Minister will join me and our campaign to protect our hospital.

"Our hospital should be looked at as a real alternative for more services to be brought there and any proposal to remove them to hand it over to another provider is something I will oppose utterly."

"I would urge local residents to say 'hands off our hospital' by signing the petition at http://timfarron.co.uk/en/petition/hands-off-our-hospital."