Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has proposed closing the ICU due to staff shortages and lack of demand but has faced strong opposition to the plans.

A joint statement by Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust read: ‘No final decisions to permanently change Level 3 care at FGH are planned to be made before October 2027. This gives us time to be able to carry on with the improvement work and ensure that any future decisions are informed by the best available clinical evidence and expertise.'

Despite progress in recent months, including the recruitment of additional staff and development of a new enhanced model of care, the update said this was not enough to reinstate level 3 critical care or guarantee its future provision.

The statement added: ‘We believe it is important that the work currently underway, together with the forthcoming Clinical Senate review, is allowed to further inform our understanding of what may be clinically, operationally and financially safe and sustainable in the future.'