South Cumbria’s MPs have taken the unusual step of jointly writing to councillors who are due to discuss controversial changes to the way critical care is delivered at Furness General Hospital.
Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board announced in July that the highest level of critical care will not return to Barrow.
It said Level 3 intensive care, which was suspended at the hospital a year ago due to issues with recruiting staff, would become a permanent move.
The Health and Adults Scrutiny Committee of Westmorland and Furness Council are due to debate the change on Wednesday September 24.
Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham and Westmorland and Furness MP Tim Farron have written a joint letter to all members.
In it they highlight a 13,000-name petition opposing the permanent removal of the service from Furness General Hospital which was presented to the ICB’s acting chief executive.
The MPs said: “Their voices underline the deep concern that exists about the impact these changes would have on patient safety, interdependent services, the knock-on impact on services at Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital, and the wider health and wellbeing of people across our area.
“The Health and Adult Scrutiny Committee will play a vital role in ensuring these proposals are properly examined, and you will determine whether you believe these proposals require full public consultation.
“Given the substantial nature of the proposed changes, and the fact that there are clear alternative clinical options that should be considered, we therefore urge the committee to recommend that these proposals are withdrawn or, at the very least, require a full and transparent public consultation in line with NHS England’s guidance on significant service change. It is necessary that local people and clinicians can properly contribute to this vital decision.
“In addition, it is vital that you ensure that all outstanding questions and evidence gaps are addressed before any decision is reached, or public consultation undertaken. This includes setting out the detail of the proposed stabilisation-and-transfer service model, the impact on interdependent services, and wider impact on our local health economy. “
The pair also set out 10 questions they believe still need to be answered about the changes:
- What assessment has been undertaken of the impact on interdependent services at Furness General Hospital (maternity, acute paediatrics, full A&E), and what mitigation measures are proposed?
- How will the removal of Level 3 provision affect the sustainability of Level 1 and 2 care at Furness General Hospital?
- Has the new stabilisation-and-transfer service model been fully defined and tested with the Clinical Senate?
- What recruitment strategies have been tried to sustain Level 3 staffing, and what further options remain?
- Why was capacity prioritised at Royal Lancaster Infirmary over Furness General Hospital given Barrow’s geographical isolation?
- What demand modelling has been carried out for future Level 3 need in Furness, and has it accounted for seasonal surges, major incidents, and population growth?
- What outcome data (mortality, morbidity, length of stay) supports claims of improved outcomes under the temporary arrangements?
- What evidence has been gathered on the risks of transferring patients to Royal Lancaster Infirmary, particularly during adverse weather or road closures?
- How is “critical mass” defined in this context, and how do Furness General Hospital and Royal Lancaster Hospital compare to that standard?
- Has a full equality and health inequalities impact assessment been completed, particularly regarding socio-economic factors and travel burdens on families?
