Farron hits out against 'privatisation' of Baycall

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 17th Jun 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has reacted angrily to reports that Baycall, the out of hours GP service for south Cumbria, could be dissolved and replaced by a private company that could be managed from Carlisle or Penrith. Baycall provides the service for the South Cumbria, Lancaster and Morecambe Bay areas and have an excellent reputation for patient care.

There are fears that privatisation of the service could lead to a loss of key staff and a general reduction in the quality of the service.

Tim Farron said:

"My main fear on hearing of these plans was that a private sector provider would be able to dictate inferior terms and conditions for staff and a level of service that would not be to the benefit of patients.

"Many of Baycall's senior clinical and administrative staff have left already having read the writing on the wall, and so the chances are even greater that the new privatised set up will be managed and directed from the north of the county."