MORE than 140 patients have been discharged from local hospitals after battling coronavirus.

The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has confirmed that 141 have successfully overcome the fatal virus since March 18.

This includes 75 patients discharged from Furness General Hospital, three from Westmorland General Hospital and 71 from the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Councillor Bill McEwan, who represents the Ormsgill ward in Barrow, welcomed the ‘fantastic news’.

“It’s great to see this is happening and that people are getting over it,” he said.

“They are under immense pressure at Furness General Hospital, as with all hospitals, and the job they are doing is amazing.

“For these 141 people to come through it gives everyone hope and shows there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

“This is fantastic news and that’s all down to the great work that the heroes in the NHS are doing.”

UHMBT's executive chief nurse Sue Smith OBE said: “We are delighted that 141 patients who had tested positive for coronavirus have now been discharged thanks to the professionalism of our teams in our hospitals and in the community.

“Our colleagues have been working tirelessly to care for patients and help them to get back home as soon as possible.

"Our fantastic community teams will now continue to offer support for some of these patients in their own home.

“It is a hugely worrying time for everyone and we are proud of our teams for the exceptional levels of care and dedication they are displaying, despite the unprecedented pressure they are under.

“This is an ongoing pandemic and our hard-working staff will continue to go over and above to ensure everyone is treated with great care, skill, respect and compassion, and we would ask everyone to ensure they stay at home to help protect the NHS."

There are now 10,929 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the North West and 93,873​ across the UK.

Across the UK a total of 290,720 people have been tested.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who is himself battling suspected coronavirus, was delighted to hear so many patients had recovered.

“This is extremely welcome news,” he said.

“I want to say a massive thank you to our amazing local NHS staff who have been heroically working day and night to save lives.”

At UHMBT 114 patients have died after contracting the virus.

Figures released by NHS England show that Cumbria has in the last three or four days seen the disease continue to claim lives, with six deaths reported on Sunday at UHMBT.

A further four patient deaths were reported on Monday.

The UK’s coronavirus death toll is nearing 13,000 after another 801 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours.