Farron pledges to lead fight to raise funds to save heart and stroke units

5.00.00pm GMT Wed 5th Dec 2007

"Lancaster heart unit upgrade came from voluntary funds - say the word and we'll match this" MP tells health bosses

Local MP Tim Farron has today welcomed the opening of the new Coronary Care Unit at Lancaster Royal Infirmary, which has been part-funded by private donations, but expressed anger at the Morecambe Bay Hospitals Trust and the Cumbria Primary Care Trust for not allowing similar donations to pay for the upgrades to allow the heart and stroke unit at Westmorland General Hospital to remain open.

Given the public outcry at the proposed closure of the unit at Westmorland General, Mr Farron believes it would be relatively easy to raise the money required in order, for example, to purchase an MRI scanner.

Tim Farron said:

"We have seen on several occasions over the past 18 months the huge number of people moved to come out and support the hospital, and 27,000 people signed the petition against local cuts.

"I am confident that we could raise £1 million locally from private donations to secure the future of our heart and stroke unit. The health trusts only need to say the word, and we'll raise the cash. "