MP puts down parliamentary motion calling for government backing for radiotherapy campaign

Local MP Tim Farron has put down a parliamentary motion calling on the government and NHS commissioners to back the bid for a radiotherapy unit to be based at Westmorland General Hospital.

Tim's motion reads: "That this House notes that prior to July 2011, cancer patients from the South Lakes requiring chemotherapy treatment had to make gruelling journeys outside the area for treatment; welcomes the new Grizedale Chemotherapy Unit at Westmorland General Hospital which is now providing much needed treatment for hundreds of cancer patients across the South Lakes; believes that while this is a big step forward in the campaign to bring full cancer treatment services to the South Lakes it is still essential that radiotherapy services are also brought to Westmorland General Hospital; further notes that the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group recommends that radiotherapy patients should not have to travel more than 45 minutes to receive treatment and that currently patients in the South Lakes have to travel a minimum of 60 minutes to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment; further welcomes the fact that the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust have submitted a business plan to NHS commissioners for a satellite radiotherapy unit at Westmorland General Hospital; and calls on the commissioners to approve this bid as soon as possible."

Last week Tim launched an online petition which can be found here: http://timfarron.co.uk/en/petition/help-bring-a-radiotherapy-service-to-Kendal. Tim has also received a massive response to the 40,000 petitions he recently sent to households across theSouthLakes.

Tim said: "This parliamentary motion puts down a marker that our campaign is serious. We will not stop until we have a full cancer treatment unit at Westmorland General Hospital. Having a unit in the South Lakes will mean that we can we can have high quality services on our doorstep, helping to save lives."