Why is the Trust considering closing these wards?
At the moment, too many people remain in hospital beds even after they no longer need hospital level treatment. This isn’t anyone’s fault – it’s how the system has evolved – but it isn’t what patients want, and it isn’t what’s best for their health.
Almost a third of patients at RLI stay in hospital even after they are medically ready to be discharged. Many are waiting for community support, rehabilitation, or care packages.
Healthcare professionals are clear: when people, especially older people, stay in hospital longer than they need to, their health can worsen. Longer stays can lead to:
- Loss of strength and mobility
- Reduced confidence
- Memory decline
- Loss of independence
The wards in Castle View were originally used for rehabilitation but are now mostly used for patients who are simply waiting for onward care – not for those needing acute medical treatment. People recover better and faster at home or in community settings, when it’s safe for them to do so. Reducing unnecessary stays also helps keep beds available for patients who genuinely need acute hospital care.
Is this about cutting NHS services?
No. This proposal is not about cutting services. It is about:
- Making sure people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
- Reducing unnecessary hospital stays.
- Shifting care closer to home where possible.
It reflects national NHS priorities to shift care from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital.
Are the proposed changes being driven by money rather than patient care?
No. Patient safety and quality of care are the main reasons for this proposal.
However, the NHS is under real financial pressure. Lancashire and South Cumbria is one of the most financially pressured health systems in England, and running hospital wards for people who no longer need hospital care is not sustainable.
Each ward costs £1.77 million per year to operate. Closing these wards would allow the Trust to reinvest money where it has the greatest benefit for local people and helps ensure NHS resources are used in the most effective way.
Why are the proposed changes being phased?
Any reduction in beds would only take place when there is clear evidence that it is safe and sustainable. This is why the proposal is phased rather than immediate. The second ward would only close if it is clearly safe to do so.
What improvements are being made to support this proposed change?
The Trust has already been working on ways to reduce unnecessary hospital stays, including:
- Virtual wards/hospital at home, allowing patients to be monitored safely at home
- Faster discharge processes, so people can go home as soon as they’re medically ready
- Closer working with councils and community services to reduce waiting times for care packages and rehabilitation
- Better in‑hospital processes so care and discharge planning happen earlier
Beds would only be reduced where there is clear evidence that patient care and safety are not being compromised.
Are there enough community services to support people safely at home?
Community services are a vital part of this proposal, and work is already underway to strengthen them. This includes strengthening the Trust’s home‑first approach, expanding virtual wards and hospital‑at‑home services, increasing therapy support, and working closely with councils to reduce delays.
The NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), which plans and commissions £5.5 billion of health services, is also investing more in interventions that help reduce demand on acute services. One example is increased investment in primary care through local enhanced services (LES). In Morecambe Bay, funding for GP practices increased from £2.9 million to £9.9 million in 2025/26.
This additional investment enabled services to be standardised across practices and expanded the range of care available locally, including support for people with long‑term conditions, dementia and end‑of‑life care, wound care, and diabetes and anti‑coagulation services.
Meanwhile, neighbourhood teams in Morecambe Bay are already delivering care in community settings, working from places where residents naturally gather and making best use of local assets. A strong example is the partnership at Kendal Leisure Centre, where the NHS integrated musculoskeletal service is co‑located with community facilities, helping people with pain, mobility and long‑term conditions to access support outside hospital.
This neighbourhood approach brings together NHS services, primary care, councils, voluntary and community partners to provide joined‑up, preventative support. Programmes such as ESCAPE‑pain and physical activity referral services are helping people stay active and independent, reducing the need for hospital treatment and lowering demand on the wider health system.
We recognise community services are under pressure, which is why beds would only be reduced when improvements are delivered and sustained, and there is clear evidence it is safe and sustainable.
How would patient safety be protected?
Patient safety is the Trust’s top priority. Senior clinical leaders would regularly review the impact of any changes. Beds could be reopened if there are safety concerns, and the second ward will not close unless it is clearly safe to do so.
Would patients still get the care they need?
Yes.
Patients who need hospital care would continue to receive it.
Patients who are medically fit to leave hospital would be supported to recover at home or in more appropriate community settings, which often leads to better outcomes.
Would this make A&E waits worse at Royal Lancaster Infirmary?
No. The aim of this proposal is to protect urgent and emergency care, not weaken it.
By reducing unnecessary hospital stays and improving patient flow, beds should be available more quickly for people who need emergency or acute treatment.
Would this change affect some communities more than others?
The Trust has reviewed how the proposed changes might affect different groups, and initial assessment shows no disproportionate impact on disadvantaged communities. Equality impacts will continue to be reviewed as proposals are developed.
Have local people been involved?
The Trust has briefed local councils, MPs and scrutiny committees. NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Trust will work together to carry out and further engagement, including:
- Speaking and listening to staff working on the wards in questions and across the hospital.
- Listening to patients, families and carers on affected wards.
- Listening to the experiences of community and patient groups and the wider public
- Reviewing existing feedback and public insight.
What is the overall aim of the proposed reduction in beds?
- Help people recover faster and maintain independence
- Keep hospital beds available for those who truly need them
- Provide care in the most appropriate setting
- Use NHS resources responsibly
- Protect patient safety now and in the future
