Publish date: 6 October 2026
Improvements to vascular services in Lancashire and South Cumbria are being proposed in a new public consultation launched by the local NHS.
People in the region are being asked to contribute to the discussion, which will help determine how and where the services are delivered.
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has launched the eight-week consultation, welcoming feedback from local people and patients up until Friday 27 November.
Andy Curran, the ICB’s Co-Medical Director, said: “We have some great vascular services already in our part of the world, but the way they are delivered varies across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
“We want vascular care to be safer, more consistent and better joined up across the whole of our region, with specialist expertise available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for everyone.
“Over the last seven years we have spoken to staff, patients and carers about our plans to improve services and asked what is most important to them. The feedback we have received has helped us to shape this proposal.
“In launching a public consultation, we want as much feedback as possible, which will help shape these services for years to come.”
The proposal that is subject to consultation is to create a vascular network across Lancashire and South Cumbria hospitals, hosted by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Royal Preston Hospital would become the single specialist centre for planned and emergency inpatient vascular surgery for all patients across Lancashire, South Cumbria and Wigan. Currently this is provided in both Preston and Royal Blackburn Hospital.
This proposal takes into account national guidance that our vascular services do not currently adhere to, which states that:
- A vascular network should cover a minimum of 800,000 people
- There should be one ‘hub’ hospital for artery surgery and more complex treatments.
This wouldn’t mean that all vascular care moves to Preston - clinics, tests, suitable day-case treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation would continue at local hospitals.
Mr Curran added: “We are asking people to read the consultation information and share their views on the proposal, either through a survey which can be completed online, on a paper copy or over the phone, or by attending one of our drop-in listening events in East Lancashire - where patients will be the most impacted by the change.
“It is important to emphasise that no final decision has been made, which is why we want local people to tell us what they think before a decision is taken. We want to hear whether the proposal is clear, what benefits or concerns you see, and how the possible changes could affect you or others.”
Information and reading materials are available on the ICB’s vascular consultation webpage as well as FAQs and a link to complete the survey and details on how to complete the survey over the phone. You can also email lscicb.
Consultation materials are also available on our webpage in Easy Read format and translation from English into 134 other languages.
The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday, 27 November 2026. All feedback will be independently analysed and considered before a final decision is made.
