Tim Farron calls on Minister to stop plans to close hospital ward at Furness General Hospital

South Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has urged a Health Minister to intervene to stop controversial plans to close the Abbey View ward at Furness General Hospital.

Tim was speaking in the House of Commons during a ministerial statement about the Government’s new funding for hospices.

The Abbey View ward provides palliative care for patients, and therefore Tim argued that its closure would put even more pressure on local hospices.

Tim also challenged the Minister to protect hospices from the hike in National Insurance contributions.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Tim said: “This additional funding will benefit hospices serving Westmorland communities - St Mary’s, St John’s, Eden Valley and the children’s hospice, Jigsaw - only if two things happen. 

“First, the Government must provide additional funding to match the national insurance increases that those hospices will have to bear, and secondly, the Government must ensure that the integrated care boards in south Cumbria and north Cumbria pass on that money in full and on time. Will the Minister press them to do so? 

“On the Morecambe Bay end, will she press them on the closure of the Abbey View ward at Barrow hospital? The trust is planning to close that end of life ward, which will put additional pressure on our local hospices but without any additional funding to support them.”

Responding, Health Minister Karin Smyth said: “The commissioning of those services is the responsibility of the ICBs, and we expect them to do that. They are responsible from diagnosis to end of life. 

“In the past few months, I have met many honourable members from across political parties to discuss issues in their ICBs. I know that he will, like others, be assiduous in pursuing the ICB to ensure that funding goes to the right place.”