Farron demands more beds at Morecambe Bay

3.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th May 2009

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has expressed his concern about the number of operations being cancelled at Morecambe Bay due to a shortage of hospital beds.

The Chief Executive of the Trust, Tony Halsall, confirmed to Mr Farron in a recent letter that 21 operations had been cancelled between September 2008 and March 2009 as a result of a shortage of beds.

Mr Farron believes the figures give further support to his campaign for more beds to be made available at Westmorland General, particularly after up to 60 beds were recently lost from Morecambe Bay following ward closures.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"I'm sure that anyone who has had an operation can appreciate how stressful it is to hear that your operation will have to be cancelled because there aren't enough beds available.

"With this in mind, it is absolute madness that the trust still refuses to make use of the space at its disposal by putting in more beds at Morecambe Bay.

"I've talked before about how quickly a lack of available beds can mean operations being cancelled because of an overflow of patients onto surgical wards from medical wards.

"I'd estimate there is space for at least another 40 beds at Westmorland General, but even just another 25 would make all the difference and would prevent operations from being cancelled. Hopefully, the trust will heed my advice and act immediately to make more beds available at Morecambe Bay."