MP praises staff on visit to hospital surgical hub

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister was full of praise for NHS staff during a visit to the Elective Surgical Hub at West Cumberland Hospital.

The hub is designed to carry out high-volume, low-complexity procedures, including orthopaedic surgeries, making best use of the redeveloped West Cumberland Hospital site.

During the visit, Josh met with clinical and operational staff, toured the hub’s facilities, and heard about how the dedicated unit is helping to reduce cancellations, shorten waiting times, and deliver safe, efficient elective care in a protected setting separate from emergency services. 

The visit follows the recent announcement that the hub has been awarded national accreditation by NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, recognising its high standards of clinical care, operational excellence, and patient experience.

Josh MacAlister MP praised the commitment and teamwork of staff who have driven the development of the hub from the outset and congratulated them on achieving national accreditation.

Speaking after the visit, Josh MacAlister MP said:

“It was a real pleasure to visit the Elective Surgical Hub and meet the staff delivering this outstanding service. The GIRFT accreditation is a significant achievement and reflects the dedication, professionalism, and hard work of everyone involved. This hub is a great example of how investment, innovation, and teamwork can improve patient care and help tackle waiting times for our communities.”

Gill Findley, Executive Chief Nurse at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“It is a real feather in our cap to earn national accreditation for our surgical hub and it reflects a lot of hard work by the team. It will help us to see and treat more patients and to reduce our waiting lists. Being an accredited hub with fantastic facilities will also help us to attract more senior surgeons  to come and work at the West Cumberland Hospital, helping us to improve the quality and sustainability of our services.”