Update on Community Service consultation

As you may know, the Community Service consultation affecting the Langdale Unit at Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) and Community Services for South Lakes closed on 31 December 2021.

We are grateful to everyone who took the time to give their views and Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has confirmed that it has received many considered responses from NHS staff, as well as in the wider health and care sector, members of the public, councillors and representatives from the voluntary and community sector.

The CCG is now carefully reviewing the results and is producing a report of findings that will offer recommendations about the future of the Unit, based on the responses received through this consultation. It is important to stress that no decisions have yet been made.

Any recommendations and proposed next steps must be approved by leaders at the CCG, NHS England (NHSE) and Cumbria County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee before any action is taken.

The next steps are as follows:

· The report of findings will be by CCG Executive for ratification on Tuesday 25 January

· The paper will then be presented to Cumbria County Council and NHSE – dates to be confirmed

· When a final decision has been made, the CCG will formally notify us of any change to contract in relation to the services commissioned and we will work with the CCG on an implementation plan and timescales.

We will continue to keep you updated.