The temporary suspension was announced in September 2024 following challenges in recruiting qualified and experienced staff with only three permanent consultants in post against a national guidance requirement of eight.

Patients who require Level 3 critical care have been transferred to Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) with FGH continuing to offer Levels 1 and 2 critical care.

The suspension has now been made permanent following an independent review.

Professor Andy Knox, medical director at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: ‘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. As a result, we intend to make the temporary suspension of Level 3 intensive care at FGH permanent, but not before we engage with the local community, patients and staff.'

The ICB said 30 patients had been transferred to a different provider during the last six months, 10 of whom would have been transferred even if there had been a Level 3 unit at FGH due to their clinical needs and there had been no adverse outcomes.

Dr Caroline Brock, interim chief medical officer, UHMBT (University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust), said: ‘We understand the impact that this will have on our colleagues and local community and that there may be concerns about what this means for FGH. I want to be clear that we remain absolutely committed to FGH and its future as a district general hospital in Barrow.'

A £5.8m CDC is soon to open at the hospital and UHMBT said it hopes to receive up to £57m in national funding to expand emergency and family services on site as part of the Barrow Rising initiative.