A hospital merger plan which led to fears that people in South Cumbria would have to travel miles for treatment have been thrown out by the NHS.
Proposals were mooted to merge the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Royal Preston Hospital onto a single site near Garstang, leading to an 8,000-name petition and protests against the scheme, led by South Lakes MP Tim Farron.
Now, the Lancashire and South Cumbria Partnership has revealed its shortlist for new hospital facilities and said it had discounted the idea for a new single hospital.
Its shortlist of ideas are
- A new Royal Lancaster Infirmary on a new site, with partial rebuild / refurbishment of Royal Preston Hospital
- A new Royal Preston Hospital on a new site, with partial rebuild./ refurbishment of Royal Lancaster Infirmary
- Investment at both Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Royal Preston Hospital, allowing partial rebuilding work on both existing sites
- Two new hospitals to replace Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Royal Preston Hospital (new sites).
The proposals also include investment in Furness General Hospital.
The partnership said the investment was required due to its geographically remote location, its proximity to some of the UK’s major strategic national assets, and its need to meet NHS environmental goals.
In line with NHS guidelines, the shortlisted proposals will be benchmarked against options for no change to, and/or limited investment in, Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Royal Preston Hospital to address the list of tasks that need to be performed to repair or maintain the buildings and keep them in a suitable working condition.
Dr Gerry Skailes, chair of the New Hospitals Programme Clinical Oversight Group, said: “Lancashire and South Cumbria’s New Hospitals Programme is set to deliver major benefits to patients in our region. It will enable our local NHS to deliver flexible, state-of-the-art buildings and technology, designed to improve local people’s life expectancy and health, and increase staff morale, retention and recruitment.”
Following detailed analysis of each shortlisted option’s feasibility, the programme will need scrutiny and approvals needed from decision makers within the NHS, the government and local authorities, and ongoing patient and public involvement, before the preferred option is agreed.
The programme aims to complete the building of new hospital facilities by 2030.
Mr Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, said: “I’m absolutely over the moon that after months and months of pressure, these dangerous plans are now finally in the bin where they belong.
“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who signed the petition and backed the campaign – this is your victory.
“However, I will be watching the rest of this process like a hawk to make sure that no hospital services are moved from Kendal or Lancaster down to Preston.”
