A petition calling for the full reopening of Longridge Community Hospital has been handed into Parliament by Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis.
The petition was started by the Help Save Longridge Community Hospital campaign group, which has demanded answers since the unit’s 15 bed ward fully closed in November last year.
Signed by more than 3,000 people, the petition states: “The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to direct NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to commit to a full reopening of the hospital to provide health services to benefit the community, and to promptly address fire safety concerns, providing a timeline to reassure residents of when to expect a resolution to their concerns.”
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Blog Preston reported back in May how ICB bosses told a packed public meeting at Longridge Civic Hall that the hospital was facing an £8 million bill to get the ward reopened.
At the same meeting, which was organised by Labour MP Maya, NHS bosses said the hospital was ‘not fit for purpose’ and it no longer complied with modern fire safety regulations.
Speaking in the House of Common on Tuesday, 7 July, Maya said: “I am proud to present this petition on behalf of residents in Longridge in my constituency of Ribble Valley regarding the future of Longridge Community Hospital, which serves patients across a large semi-rural area, many of whom need health services within easy reach of their homes and families.
“The petitioners, and those who signed two similar petitions, combined they have over 3,000 signatures, are calling on Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB to improve the consistency of its communications and protect the long-term provision of services at Longridge community hospital.”
Help Save Longridge Community Hospital’s latest protest saw its members gather on Berry Lane, Longridge, at the end of June, with better communication from the ICB and more transparency regarding the future of the unit being key demands.
