Morecambe Bay trust pulls out of North Cumbria bid (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Morecambe Bay trust pulls out of North Cumbria bid
4:54pm Wednesday 12th October 2011 in Health
MORECAMBE Bay hospital bosses have pulled out of their bid to take over the financially-troubled North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust.
Tony Halsall, chief executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust (UHMBT), said the decision was taken yesterday because of its own problems following a spate of baby deaths at Furness General Hospital.
Mr Halsall said: “We believe that it is in the best interest of our patients and staff that we continue to stay focussed on ensuring that the issues recently raised by the Care Quality Commission and Monitor, particularly relating to maternity services are addressed and that we continue to move forward with our plans to ensure that our maternity services are the safest that they can be.
“We still consider that bringing together the two Cumbria acute hospital providers is the best solution for the county’s population.
"Our bid demonstrated benefits for patients, staff, commissioners and the wider Cumbrian economy. Whilst developing our bid, senior clinicians from our hospitals had worked with North Cumbria colleagues to agree how we could bring back 24 areas of treatment that are currently provided outside of the county resulting in a significant reduction in patient travel times and costs.
"We hope that in the future these services can still be repatriated for the benefit of Cumbrian patients.”
Dr Neil Goodwin, interim chief executive, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “I fully understand the reasons for them withdrawing from the acquisition process.
"I am disappointed they are not able to continue but wish them all the best in successfully addressing the challenges they are currently facing.”
Mr Halsall, said: “We would like to thank North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust for considering our bid and we look forward to working with the successful bidder in ensuring that as a county, we continue to deliver high quality, safe and effective patient care.”
