Third of Kendal renal unit beds lying empty while dialysis patients are forced to make huge journeys Preston

2.24.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th May 2009

Six of the eighteen beds in the new renal unit at Westmorland General Hospital are lying vacant despite the fact that there are dozens of south lakes patients who are desperate for treatment.

Mr Farron has expressed his concern that despite the excellent facilities at Westmorland General, many patients are still being forced to travel 3 days a week to Preston for dialysis treatment.

Mr Farron welcomed news that another doctor had been appointed to the unit, but expressed his disappointment that this had not resulted in the empty beds being used. He has now called on the local Hospitals Trust and NHS Cumbria to bring the six empty beds in to full operation immediately.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"The renal unit at Westmorland General is a first class specialist facility that is being chronically underused.

"The unit has a full capacity of 18 beds; but for reasons best known to the Trust, they can't use more than 12 beds at any one time.

"As a result, patients suffering from severe kidney problems are being forced to travel three days a week to Preston to receive dialysis treatment which they could be getting in South Lakeland. I have spoken to staff at Kendal Hospital and at Preston Hospital and it is clear that the Preston unit is bursting at the seams - its madness to leaving a third of the Kendal unit fallow."