BARROW'S MP has urged the Government to address the potentially 'life-threatening' change made to intensive care provision at Furness General Hospital.

Michelle Scrogham spoke out in parliament following a temporary decision to stop treating the most serious cases at FGH due to staff shortages.

Instead patients with conditions such as multiple organ failures are being treated at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs Scrogham asked health minster Andrew Gwynne to 'do everything' to get the service reinstated.

She said: "Critical care at Furness General Hospital in Barrow has been temporarily downgraded, meaning that those in most need of the highest level of care are now exposed to potentially life-threatening delays during a 50-mile transfer on difficult roads.

"Will the Minister please look at this worrying decision by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and do everything to enable the reopening of this service as soon as possible?"

In response, Mr Gwynne said: "My honourable friend is a doughty fighter for her constituents.

"I am aware that the decision she mentions is an interim measure made by the critical care network, the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and the NHS trust.

"The decision will be kept under review and patients impacted will receive the appropriate support.

"The Government recognise that more must be done to improve the sustainability of the NHS both nationally and in rural and coastal areas."

Morecambe Bay NHS trust bosses decided to only offer treatment for the less serious Level 1 and 2 conditions after fears that staffing levels were causing a risk to patients.

The trust blamed the decision on an unsuccessful campaign to increase recruitment - a problem seen nationally - and Barrow's 'remote geography'.

Announcing the change last month, Dr Wendy Craig, the trust's clinical director for surgery and critical Care, said: “Medical staffing within the critical care unit at Furness General Hospital has been a concern for several years.

"The current structure of the consultant cover is not meeting national guidance and is having a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the clinical team - with many covering additional shifts beyond their contracted hours."

She stressed the measure was constantly being reviewed.