MP criticises hospital ICU removal planners

Michelle Scrogham, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, raised questions about the proposals

An MP has criticised NHS planners on their proposal to permanently remove the highest level of intensive care at a hospital.

Earlier this year, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it intended to close the level 3 unit at Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow-in-Furness due to staff shortages and lack of demand.

Local Labour MP Michelle Scrogham told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she believed the ICB had "prioritised the hospital at Lancaster over Furness General".

The ICB has arranged a series of public engagement sessions about the proposals, and previously said they were based on "very sound expert clinical advice".

Level 3 care, for those who need life support for multiple organ failure, is currently suspended at FGH.

The sickest patients are currently being stabilised at FGH before being transferred 46 miles (74km) away to Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Although no decision has been made, if the plan was taken on board, it would be permanent.

Furness General Hospital only has three permanent consultants in post

The ICB sought advice from the North-West Clinical Senate in making the proposal.

However, Scrogham said she thought it was not a fully informed decision and that if the senate had the "full picture", its advice would not have been the same.

A clinical senate acts as a source of independent, strategic advice for NHS planners.

Recruitment issues

FGH only has three permanent consultants in post against a national guidance requirement of eight.

Scrogham said she did not believe "enough work to actually find the staff" for the ward had taken place.

"I don't believe there was ever a plan," she said.

"They didn't actually want to staff it at Barrow.

"I think the plan all along has been that they want to remove that service."

The ICB previously said it considered a suggestion that the recruitment of further colleagues could sufficiently staff the service, but "this did not meet the standards required".

"We have three, and despite multiple recruitment drives, this hasn't changed for years," the ICB said.

"But even if we had a full rota, those consultants would not be able to maintain their clinical competencies to a satisfactory level for us to provide safe levels of care because we aren't seeing enough people who actually need Level 3 intensive care."

It also previously said the plans would help "maintain a safe and sustainable service for the patients of South Cumbria".