MP welcomes new hospital equipment in Kendal
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news that Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal will be getting a new Modular Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner, which will enable the hospital to expand the services it provides. Tim says this is "great news for patients across the South Lakes" and has vowed to continue to campaign to bring more services to Kendal.
The new state-of-the-art equipment will mean that the Westmorland General Hospital will have the same MR scanners as are currently in place at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital.
The new service will offer greater accessibility as it will be available from 8am-8pm seven days a week, meaning more choice for patients over when appointments take place. Unlike the old mobile unit, the new facility will provide wheelchair access.
The additional capacity provided by the facility will help the Health Trust to meet diagnostic and two-week wait cancer targets.
It is expected that the unit will be operational from the 20th March.
Tim said: "This is great news for patients across the South Lakes, meaning they will face shorter journey times to access radiology services and will have more flexibility about when appointments take place.
"In addition to the shorter journey times, it will also help to relieve pressure on the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital, so is good news for patients at those hospitals.
"This is further evidence of why it makes sense to bring more services to Westmorland General. I will continue to push for an Urgent Care Centre here in Kendal."