"'Back in the black' NHS should prevent hospital closures" - Farron

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Jun 2007

Tim Farron MP led the march against hospital cuts in September 2006

Following the news today that the NHS is now back in the black after being half a billion pounds in deficit last year, local MP Tim Farron has again called for a moratorium on hospital closures. The Department of Health has today claimed that the NHS will report a surplus of more than £500 million, to be invested in new drugs and 'future services for patients'.

At the end of May Mr Farron questioned the Health Minister Andy Burnham on this issue in parliament, the Minister refused to commit until after a review had been completed in the autumn.

Mr Farron said:

"Clearly it is good news that the NHS is back in the black, and now that the financial imperative behind the proposals to close the heart and stroke units at Westmorland General has been removed, those plans should be abandoned.

"This new surplus of £500 million should be spent on improving patient care and an excellent way of doing this would be to maintain services at Westmorland General."