I welcome yesterday’s the statement from the ICB supporting the progress that has been made on re-opening level 3 critical care at FGH and pushing back any decision around permanent closure until Autumn 2027 at the earliest.
There is now a consensus that NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB’s plan to permanently decommissioning Level 3 critical care will have far-reaching consequences for FGH. Such a decision would not only impact the most critically ill patients but would also lead to a gradual decline in Level 1 and Level 2 care. Over time, this would inevitably affect the viability of other vital departments, including A&E and maternity, thereby eroding the sustainability of the hospital.
In April I set up an FGH Working Group with the aim of creating a practical, and deliverable, plan to restore Level 3 critical care at FGH. I have been very encouraged by the excellent progress we have made in just a few months, and the constructive engagement of all organisations involved including the NHS, Team Barrow, BAE Systems, and central Government.
This statement from the ICB has acknowledged these considerable steps forward. I have been asking that they give us the time and space needed to maintain that progress, and I am pleased they have today agreed to that. This is a significant concession from the ICB but there is still work to do.
Read more at Furness General: Positive steps towards Level 3 ICU return | The Mail
