FREE activities, entertainment and events for people of all ages are set to take place in Barrow as part of the town’s second Summer of Fun. The programme of events forms part of Brilliant Barrow’s Place Development project which aims to help promote the area as an inspirational place to live, work and visit –… Continue reading Brilliant Barrow Summer of Fun set to get underway

Significant impact on health services continues as hospitals in Lancashire and South Cumbria get ready for the consultant strikes. Unions announced that consultant doctors will be taking strike action for 48 hours from 7am on Thursday 20 July until 7am on Saturday 22 July. During the two days of action, consultants will provide ‘Christmas Day cover’, meaning they will continue to provide all emergency services, but routine services will be impacted. The consultant strikes are different to previous rounds of industrial action involving other staff groups. No other worker can provide cover for consultants, and other staff groups are dependent upon supervision from consultants to be able to work. Almost no activity in a hospital can occur unless it is listed under and supervised by a named consultant. The NHS and the British Medical Association (BMA) are working closely together to ensure patient safety is prioritised during this action and have committed to ensure that emergency services remain in place with staffing levels in line with that in place on Christmas Day. Craig Harris, chief of strategy, commissioning and integration at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), which organises health services for the region, said: “This has been an extremely challenging time for the NHS with the consultant strikes closely following the junior doctor strike. “Industrial action is having a significant impact on services so it’s important that the public are aware of the pressures and the best way to access care during this time. “We do have tried and tested plans in place to mitigate the risks to patient safety but these unprecedented strikes will lead to service disruption, meaning patients could see longer waiting times and deferred treatment. “Please use services widely and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to those who need it most. This includes using NHS 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and continuing to only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.” The BMA signalled an early intention to strike more than six weeks ahead of the strike dates so trusts can plan their patients lists. This means that those patients with urgent, time-sensitive conditions (e.g. cancer patients) can be managed on alternative days and not have their treatment pathways disrupted. In the event of a major incident involving mass casualties, there is an agreed process between the BMA and NHS England to ensure doctors return to work. Local NHS services will be using their websites and social media channels to provide up-to-date information to the public about local service disruption – so please check before you travel. NHS 111 Online can tell you: Where to get help for your symptoms. How to find general health information and advice. Where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine. How to get a repeat prescription. How to get an emergency dental appointment. More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.

A group of keen cyclists is set to embark on a 260-mile sponsored ride around Cumbria to raise money for a team of dedicated volunteer doctors which carries out life-saving work in the county. They are hoping their efforts will raise thousands of pounds for BEEP Doctors (BASICS) Cumbria. The charity is appealing to local… Continue reading Cyclists plan 260-mile challenge around Cumbria in aid of BEEP Doctors

Shaun Fisher, the manager of Dalton leisure centre, has today voiced his opposition to the controversial Roanhead development. Dalton leisure centre is the only non-profit community run leisure centre in the UK and it could be at risk if the Roanhead development went ahead.   ‘The development plans for Roanhead include a large leisure centre… Continue reading Dalton leisure centre faces threat from proposed Roanhead development

Cumbria police officers have once again taken part in an operation aimed at disrupting criminality in rural areas. Operation Checkpoint took place on Wednesday night into Thursday morning last week. The largest rural crime operation of its kind in the UK, Operation Checkpoint sees several police forces in the North of England working collaboratively to… Continue reading Officers target rural criminals in cross-border operation

The regional director for Northern in the North West, Craig Harrop, has reminded customers to expect widespread disruption to rail services tomorrow (Thurs 20 July) and Saturday (22 July) as a result of the RMT strikes taking place this week. You can download his audio comment here. Northern has published a travel advice calendar to… Continue reading RMT strikes: Northern trains boss in the North West warns of disruption to rail services tomorrow & Saturday

Leading theatre experts from across Europe will deliver public workshops for all ages including adults at the For / With / By Theatre Festival in Barrow-in-Furness next week. People from Barrow and across the region are invited to enjoy the programme, which features theatrical productions and family shows as well as public workshops, and promises… Continue reading For / With / By Festival of European Youth Theatre 24-28 July

Police are investigating a commercial burglary which occurred on 4th July 2023 at Sandscale Park, Barrow-in-Furness. This incident occurred between 3am and 3.30am. Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it quoting incident number 109 of 4th July 2023. You can also phone on 101. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously,… Continue reading Local Appeal – Burglary, Sandscale Park, Barrow-in-Furness

Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mike Johnson, Child Centred Policing Team (CCPT) and Barnardo’s RISE practitioners met at Cumbria Constabulary HQ on Tuesday 18 July to reflect on the successes of the RISE project, as the pilot completes its first year.   The Child Centred Policing team with Cumbria Constabulary have identified that 65.5%… Continue reading The PFCC’s ‘RISE’ project, changing young people’s lives