HOPES that Westmorland General Hospital's coronary care unit could be saved from closure appeared to be fading this week after it was disclosed that medics believe keeping it could result in patient deaths.
An NHS briefing paper, a copy of which has been obtained by The Westmorland Gazette, said that cardiologists, public health experts, GPs, and others believed that keeping the unit in the future, without the appropriate medical consultant presence, was not a feasible option, and would pose "a significant clinical risk and could result in fatality".
The news was greeted with dismay by campaigners this week.
However, NHS bosses have also spoken of plans to continue treating some less poorly patients at WGH under the care of GPs, as part of a new system that it is believed could be adopted throughout Cumbria.
For story in full see May 25 Westmorland Gazette.
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