A LOCAL MP has taken his plea for radiotherapy services in Kendal to the top.

Tim Farron MP has met with Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, to press the case for a cancer unit at Westmorland General Hospital.

It followed a march through Kendal by more than 2,000 local people last year, as well as a petition which gained more than 10,000 signatures.

Chemotherapy has now successfully opened at Kendal, but the campaign for radiotherapy continues.

And according to a spokesman for the South Lakeland MP, the Secretary of State was “extremely positive”.

Mr Farron said: “We won’t be celebrating until radiotherapy fully opens at Westmorland General Hospital, but tonight we have made a very important step forward in our long running campaign.

“I am extremely grateful to our local NHS for being so helpful as I prepared for this vital meeting, and grateful to the Secretary of State for being so positive.

“Hundreds of patients in our area are desperate that this vital life-saving treatment should be available in South Lakeland – leading to shorter journeys and longer lives.

“I am determined that we meet their needs and do so quickly, our campaign will continue until the unit is built and opened.”

Government guidelines state that cancer patients should not have to travel more than 45 minutes to receive radiotherapy.

Yet the Rosemere Unit in Preston is the nearest one for South Lakeland residents.

Mr Farron has asked Mr Hunt to urge commissioners to take action by providing radiotherapy at Kendal.