'£5m Furness maternity investment not under threat', MP John Woodcock told (From The Westmorland Gazette)

'£5m Furness maternity investment not under threat', MP John Woodcock told

9:17am Saturday 11th February 2012 in News By Gazette newsdesk

FURNESS MP John Woodcock has obtained assurances from hospital bosses that £5 million of investment needed to bring maternity services up to scratch at Furness General Hospital has not been shelved.

The MP wrote to health chiefs demanding an undertaking that urgently-needed redesign work would still go ahead following a government watchdog report which suggested the money had been promised elsewhere.

Mr Woodcock has received a firmly -worded letter assurance from Morecambe Bay Hospitals Trust chief executive Tony Halsall and NHS Cumbria boss Sue Page that the scheme is still a priority.

The money is available and plans for a new unit are going ahead, they said.

The health chiefs’ letter states: “The capital investment in maternity services at FGH remains a priority and is not on hold, as stated in the report of the diagnostics review.

“As maternity services improve at FGH, it is important that we have the very best modern facilities for mothers and babies.

“The trust is working on detailed plans for the new unit that will serve mothers and babies in Furness for years to come and this work is being fully supported my local NHS commissioners.”

Mr Woodcock said: “Thousands of families who rely on the maternity services at FGH will have been alarmed by the the suggestion that such an important project had been parked.

“People will remain anxious until the contract on building work has been signed, but it is good to get such a strong assurance that the investment in a new maternity unit remains on track.

“Much work lies ahead to address problems at the trust, and many families still do not feel they have had justice.

“But the investment we need in the maternity unit to is fundamental to delivering the first-class standards that families expect and deserve and it is good to know it remains a priority.”