FGH Campaign Update:

Our petition has now reached the very significant milestone of 10,000 signatures. Getting this number of people to sign up in just 5 days shows the strength of feeling locally. You can add your name to the petition here Say “NO” to the proposal to permanently stop delivering level 3 critical care at FGH – Michelle Scrogham MP

On Friday, I wrote to Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board on behalf of everyone who has signed the petition. A copy of the text of the letter is set out below.

LETTER TO CRAIG HARRIS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, LANCASHIRE AND SOUTH CUMBRIA ICB

Dear Craig,

I am writing to ask that you reconsider your proposal to permanently decommission Level 3 critical care at Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow.

This decision has caused deep concern across the local community. 9,000 people have now signed a petition urging you to reconsider and instead engage with local representatives to find a safer, more sustainable alternative. The scale of this response reflects a profound sense of alarm at the potential consequences of this plan.

As you are aware, Level 3 critical care at FGH was temporarily downgraded in September 2024 due to workforce issues at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. Until very recently, both the Trust and your Board had assured the public that this change was temporary and that recruitment efforts were under way. The sudden shift in position, absent any transparent clinical or operational justification, has severely undermined public trust.

There are multiple, compelling reasons for reconsidering this proposal:

• Patient Safety: Travel times LRI exceed one hour along the A590, a single-lane route frequently closed due to accidents or weather. While you may cite successful transfers over the past months, this provides no guarantee of future safety. The lack of timely access will inevitably lead to avoidable harm or loss of life.
• Long-Term Viability of FGH: No clear assessment has been shared regarding how this change would affect other services reliant on Level 3 care. Staff recruitment and retention—already a challenge—will likely be made more difficult by this decision.
• Population growth: Barrow’s population is due to expand by an estimated 30% in the years ahead. The number of patients needing level 3 critical care support are likely to increase proportionally.

Given the significance of these issues and the strong public opposition, we urge you to halt this proposal immediately. Instead, we call on the ICB to meet with local clinicians, elected representatives, and community stakeholders to explore a viable alternative path forward—one that ensures patient safety, protects the integrity of FGH, and reflects the area’s growing population.

We await your urgent response and a clear commitment to meaningful local engagement.

Yours sincerely,

Michelle Scrogham, MP for Barrow and Furness