Furness General ICU Future Still Unclear After Health Bosses Meet MP
The future of Level 3 intensive care at Furness General Hospital remains uncertain after health bosses met Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham.
The meeting followed strong local concern over proposals to make the temporary suspension of Level 3 critical care at the Barrow hospital permanent. Health leaders have not ruled out the plan, but it is still unclear whether the process can be paused while other options are considered.
Level 3 care is the highest level of intensive care. It is used for the most seriously ill patients. Including those who need advanced breathing support or support for more than one organ. Level 3 services at Furness General Hospital were temporarily suspended in September 2024 due to staffing issues. With patients now stabilised in Barrow before being transferred to Royal Lancaster Infirmary when needed.
MP Calls for Alternative Plan
Michelle Scrogham has been campaigning against the permanent removal of Level 3 critical care from Furness General Hospital.
She has argued that the hospital serves a growing and geographically isolated area, where long transfer times can create extra risk for very unwell patients. In Parliament, she told Health Secretary Wes Streeting that more than 10,000 people had signed her petition opposing the move.
Mr Streeting said local commissioners should meet the MP and local representatives to discuss the issue. He also said decisions must be clinically led, but made in partnership with the local authority and community.
Why the Service Was Suspended
NHS leaders have said the temporary change was made because the Level 3 service could not be safely staffed.
According to NHS updates, Furness General had only three permanent consultants in post when the service was suspended. National guidance required eight. Health bosses said recruitment had remained difficult. Despite efforts to bring in qualified and experienced staff.
Since the suspension, patients who need Level 3 care have continued to be assessed and stabilised at Furness General before transfer. Level 1 and Level 2 critical care services have continued at the Barrow hospital.
Concerns Over Travel and Safety
The proposal has caused concern across Barrow, Furness and South Cumbria.
Residents, campaigners and political representatives have raised worries about the distance between Furness General Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The journey can be difficult, particularly in poor weather or when roads are busy.
For families, a transfer to Lancaster can also mean extra travel at an already stressful time. Critics of the proposal say this could leave Furness residents at a disadvantage compared with people living closer to larger hospitals.
Health leaders have argued that the current model is based on patient safety. They say it is safer to transfer the most seriously ill patients to a larger Level 3 unit than to run a service in Barrow that cannot meet staffing and national standards.
Further Review Still Under Way
The process is not finished.
Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has said a further review is being carried out by the Yorkshire and the Humber Clinical Senate. This includes a review of the pre-consultation business case and an on-site review at Furness General Hospital.
The outcome will help shape the next stage of the process. A public consultation may follow later, but that still depends on approvals from the ICB board and NHS England.
Hospital Services to Continue
NHS leaders have stressed that Furness General Hospital is not closing and that other services are not part of this proposal.
The hospital will continue to provide A&E, emergency surgery, maternity, women’s services and other important care. A new community diagnostic centre has also been funded at the site.
However, for many local people, the debate over Level 3 ICU has become a wider symbol of how healthcare is planned for Barrow and Furness.
Decision Still Awaited
A final decision has not yet been made.
The key question now is whether health bosses will pause the current direction of travel and fully examine an alternative route that could restore Level 3 care at Furness General.
For campaigners, the issue is about keeping the highest level of emergency care close to home. For NHS leaders, the challenge is proving that any service model is safe, staffed and sustainable.
Until that decision is made, the future of Level 3 intensive care at Furness General Hospital remains one of the most closely watched health issues in South Cumbria.
