A SPOKESMAN for the Better Care Together review responded to the fears raised last week – but was unable to say services will not be lost from WGH.

“We’ve got some really challenging financial issues,” explained Dr Hugh Reeve, a Grange-over-Sands GP who also chairs the Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group.

“So we can’t at this moment in time give those assurances.”

The potential downgrading of services at WGH was allegedly suggested by the chief executive of the Morecambe Bay hospital trust, Jackie Daniel, at a meeting with consultants over the potential outcome of the Better Care Together review.

The review was begun last year with the intention of providing a long-term plan for healthcare across Morecambe Bay.

Led by Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, North Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group and the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (UHMBT), the programme has considered ‘all options’ – and Dr Reeve said from the outset ‘nothing was ruled in or ruled out’.

“We said: ‘We’re going to approach this looking across the whole system’, and that includes the three hospitals and all the services outside the hospitals,” he explained.

He said some ‘off-the-peg’ ideas were considered and ruled out – such as closing WGH completely, or opening a ‘super hospital’ somewhere around Morecambe Bay.

“I’m a local resident and live three miles from the hospital so I’m fully aware of the place it has within the local community and there are absolutely no plans to close Westmorland General Hospital.” he said Now, he said, the process was at a stage where the final options – based on consultations with the public and other stakeholders – can be narrowed down.