Tim Farron calls for health boss to reverse decision to close hospital wards

Local MP Tim Farron has written to the Chief Executive of Morecambe Bay Hospitals Trust, Aaron Cummins, urging him to halt controversial and imminent plans to close hospital wards in Kendal and Barrow.

Under the proposals, Ward 6 at Westmorland General Hospital, which is used for rehabilitation, and the Abbey View palliative care ward at Furness General Hospital, will be closed.

Meanwhile changes to Ward 1 at Furness General Hospital will see the removal of overnight beds, and gynaecology inpatients moved to a mixed sex ward.

The plans will be discussed tomorrow at an extraordinary meeting of Westmorland and Furness Council’s Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Writing to Mr Cummins, Tim said: “I understand that your Trust has been put under huge financial strains as a result of historic underfunding, and therefore are being forced to make some difficult decisions.

“However that doesn’t change the fact that the closure of Ward 6 will put more pressure on an already beleaguered social care system. It will also either result in patients being transferred all the way over to Barrow or patients being discharged who are not in a medically fit state. Meanwhile the decision to close the Abbey View palliative care ward will undoubtedly have a huge impact on hospices in Cumbria. 

“I am also incredibly concerned about the changes to Ward 1 at Furness General Hospital – removing all overnight beds and moving all gynaecology inpatients to a mixed sex ward. I am receiving complaints from distressed hospital staff who share these concerns about how this will affect the privacy and dignity of women.

“I am even more concerned that all of these decisions appears to be happening without any consultation with patients and the local community.

“I therefore urge you to halt these closures and instead put these decisions out to public consultation.”