Switch to an accessible version of this website which is easier to read. (requires cookies)

Ambulance queues at Royal Lancaster Infirmary are "proof that ambulances must be allowed to return to Westmorland General"

December 10, 2008 11:20 AM

More shocking evidence has come to light about the inability of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary's A&E department to cope with the increased level of admissions since the closure of acute medical services at the Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal.

Last week seven ambulances were forced to wait outside A&E at Lancaster for around an hour because there wasn't any space in the department for their patients, apparently leaving much of the South Lakes and Lancaster area without proper ambulance cover.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has again called on local health bosses to urgently review its systems for handling acute patients following the implementation of the Acute Medical Services Review in the summer. Since then the Hospitals Trust has failed to meet its four hour waiting time target for A&E at Lancaster every month.

Speaking today, Mr Farron said: "The problems at A&E in Lancaster are extremely distressing for the patients who have been caught up in this mess. Hardly a day goes by without someone ringing my office to complain about the situation, and only last week I had to hand over a substantive number of documents to trust bosses about the latest round of complaints.

"The Hospitals Trust must take immediate action to remedy the situation - including reopening Westmorland General to ambulances. These problems simply cannot be allowed to continue."

What would you like to do next?

  • Subscribe for updates

    Read updates from this website in your desktop or online news reader

    • On a news reader website

      •  
      •  
      •  

      In a desktop news reader or a website not listed above

      •  
    • Example monthly digest email
      •  
      •  
      •  
    • If you submit your contact details, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image

    Join our email list

    • If you submit your contact details, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image

    Follow the party's activity on...

  • Share this page

    Share this page on another website

    Email this page to a friend


    • Generate different image
  • Help out or donate

    Help out in your local area

      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
      •  
    • If you submit your contact details, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image
  • Tell us what you think

    Send us your views

    If you are a resident of the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency and are writing to discuss any issue that Parliament or government is responsible for, you must provide your home address as MPs are generally only permitted to act on behalf of constituents.

    If you are not a constituent, you do not need to provide your address, but the matters we can deal with are more limited and you may wish to contact your local MP in the first instance.

    • If you agree, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats, and their elected representatives may use the information you provide to contact you about issues you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of these contacts at any time by contacting us.


    • Generate different image