The Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has announced its intention to make permanent the temporary suspension of Level 3 intensive care services at Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow-in-Furness.
The recommendation follows an independent review commissioned by the North West Clinical Senate, which concluded that the service was no longer safe or sustainable.
Level 3 critical care services, typically reserved for the most seriously ill patients requiring advanced respiratory support or multiple organ support, were suspended at FGH in September 2024 due to longstanding medical staffing shortages.
At the time of suspension, only three permanent consultants were in post, very short of the national requirement of eight.
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has announced its intention to make permanent the temporary suspension of Level 3 intensive care services at Furness General Hospital
Since then, patients requiring Level 3 care have been stabilised at FGH before being transferred to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI).
While Level 1 and 2 critical care services have continued to operate at FGH.
Professor Andy Knox, Medical Director at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: “When considering how we provide the very best services for patients, we want to ensure that they are clinically safe and provide the highest quality of care, in line with national guidance. This is especially important when it comes to intensive care.
“The report from the independent review has found that the previous provision could not meet the necessary standards and was therefore not safe. Due to this, the Clinical Senate are supportive of the Intensive Care Unit at FGH continuing to provide Level 1 and 2 care on site with a treat and transfer service to either RLI or another appropriate provider."
At the time of suspension, only three permanent consultants were in post, very short of the national requirement of eight
While the ICB supports making the temporary change permanent, it has committed to engaging with the local community, staff, and patients before a final decision is made.
Dr Caroline Brock, Interim Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), which operates FGH, said:
“Unfortunately, despite huge efforts to recruit and retain suitably qualified and experienced medical colleagues over a number of years, we are still unable to provide a safe and sustainable Level 3 intensive care service at FGH.
“We remain absolutely committed to FGH and its future as a district general hospital in Barrow. We are about to open a brand new £5.8m Community Diagnostic Centre and are hoping to receive up to £57m of national funding to expand emergency and family services on site as part of the Barrow Rising initiative.”
The Clinical Senate review supported the ICB’s recommendation, highlighting that the previous Level 3 ICU was not compliant with the Intensive Care Society’s Guidelines
Between October 2024 and March 2025, 30 patients were transferred from FGH to RLI for Level 3 care.
Of these, 10 would have been transferred regardless of the status of the ICU due to the complexity of their cases. No adverse outcomes were reported.
The Clinical Senate review supported the ICB’s recommendation, highlighting that the previous Level 3 ICU was not compliant with the Intensive Care Society’s Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS).
The review warned that any attempt to resume Level 3 services under the existing model would be unsafe and unsustainable.
The panel advised that, moving forward, the Trust and ICB must urgently develop a new critical care model at FGH
The panel advised that, moving forward, the Trust and ICB must urgently develop a new critical care model at FGH, incorporating Levels 1 and 2 care with a stabilisation and transfer service for Level 3 patients.
This must include appropriate staffing, infrastructure, and 24/7 clinical support, especially given the 47-mile transfer distance to RLI.
The report also called for stronger engagement with frontline staff, many of whom continue to express a desire to reinstate a full Level 3 ICU, leading to what the panel described as a “disconnect” between leadership and clinical teams.
Additionally, the panel highlighted the importance of maintaining critical interdependent services such as A&E, surgery, and paediatrics, which could be negatively affected by the absence of Level 3 care on site.
The ICB said further details and timelines will be shared once engagement with stakeholders is completed.