MP labels plans to close rehab ward 'bananas'

Plans to close a hospital rehabilitation ward have been branded "bananas" by the local member of Parliament.

Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, has criticised University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust (UHMBT) over their plans to repurpose some wards at Furness General Hospital and Westmorland General Hospital.

The plans include proposals to shut Abbey View - a palliative care ward - at the Furness facility, as well as the closure of ward six - a rehabilitation ward - at Westmorland General.

Aaron Cummins, chief executive of UHMBT, said no concerns had been raised by staff regarding the plans to close ward six, adding Abbey View would not close until August.

Farron said both wards were "perfectly placed" to support patients, while freeing up beds for incoming patients to Accident & Emergency, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The MP said: "At a time when a sizeable proportion of our hospital beds are filled with patients who are medically fit enough to leave hospital, but don't have access to adequate care at home, it is absolutely bananas for health bosses to close rehab wards."

He added the plans, which include repurposing wards one, four and five at Furness General Hospital, were being carried out without consultation with residents.

The Trust said its plans had not yet been finalised but the proposals would allow Westmoreland General Hospital to increase the number of patients receiving day-case surgery and support its aim of becoming an accredited surgical hub.

Mr Cummins said: "Our aim is to vastly improve outcomes for patients, in terms of length of stay, and to develop a model of care which is designed to keep people well for longer - and therefore avoid hospital admissions, where possible."

He added changes to initial plans had been made in light of stakeholders' feedback.

The revised plans are currently with Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board as commissioners for their final consideration.

The Trust said they will provide further updates "when possible".

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