Campaigners urged to object hospital closure plans (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Campaigners urged to object hospital closure plans

2:20pm Thursday 3rd July 2008 in Save Our NHS By Ellie Hargreaves

WESTMORLAND and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron is writing to the 28,000 people who petitioned against closures at Westmorland General Hospital, urging them to take part in a final call to arms.

The MP wants campaigners to write letters of objection to the 13 members of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee, who are being asked to approve the closure the hospital’s heart unit and a medical ward, at a meeting with health bosses on July 29.

The University Hospitals of morecambe.co.uk" target="_blank">Morecambe Bay NHS Trust wants to close the coronary care unit and ward 8 in August to conclude its review of acute services at WGH.

But campaigners say shutting the Burton Road site to heart attack, stroke and acutely ill patients will put lives in danger, because they will face increased waits for emergency care because of additional journey times to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary or Barrow’s Furness General Hospital.

The names and addresses of the 13 councillors who sit on the Cumbria Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee are below. For the full story see the July 4 edition of The Westmorland Gazette.

Coun Bert Richardson, Jasmin, Jefferson Garth, Greystoke, Penrith, CA11 0UA.

Coun Jeff Garnett, 17 Kentmere Crescent, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 4NL.

Coun Heath, 50 Caspian Road, Askam-in-Furness, LA16 7HW.

Coun David Vatcher (South Lakeland DC), 45 Lake Road, Ambleside, LA22 0DF.

Coun Allan Caine, 7 East Avenue, Harrington, Workington, CA14 5PJ.

Coun Alan Clark, 'Everleigh', 3 Moor Road, Great Clifton, Workington, CA14 1TS.

Coun Duncan Fairbarin, Thornby Moor House, Aikton, Wigton, CA7 0JZ.

Coun Simon Leyton, Arlecdon Howe Farm, Arlecdon, Frizington, CA26 3UW.

Coun Liz Mallinson, 17 Wolsty Close, Stanwix, carlisle.gov.uk" target="_blank">Carlisle, CA3 0PB.

Coun Sandra Fisher, 27 Howard Place, carlisle.gov.uk" target="_blank">Carlisle, CA1 1HR.

Coun Dawn Richardson, Ghyll House, Dufton, appleby.uk.net" target="_blank">Appleby, CA16 6DB.

Coun John Hunter, Summerhill, 14 Fern Bank, Cockermouth, CA13 0DF.

Coun Geoffrey Garrity, 30 Martindale Close, Whitehaven, CA28 8SL.