Tim takes hospital campaign on to the streets

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has sent out petitions to over 20,000 people throughout South Lakeland to allow people to add their voice to the growing campaign to protect Westmorland General Hospital. He has also started a series of outdoor petition signing sessions.

Fresh from pressuring the Prime Minister to look into the case of Westmorland General, Tim is continuing the fight to protect our hospital and it's services.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust is at the end of a long term review to restructure health services in South Cumbria and North Lancashire. As part of that process, whistle-blowers have said that services are under threat.

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.

Tim has called on local residents to engage with the process and make sure their views are heard. Tim has met hospital management and will continue to do so throughout the process.

On Friday, Tim was out on the Birdcage in Kendal asking residents to join the campaign - the first of many outdoor petition signature sessions.

Tim put his opposition on the record: "I am deeply disturbed by these proposals to 'gift' our hospital to a private company or a separate trust. This is our community hospital and residents have no desire to let it fall into the hands of a private company for their profit.

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