Westmorland Hospital's Kentmere Ward closure leaves patients 'devastated'

Patients of a ward at Westmorland General Hospital that's to close by the end of the Summer say they're devastated.

One told ITV Border she's had sleepless nights worrying about what will happen.

The decision to close the Kentmere Ward, which has 12 beds for psychiatric inpatients, was made after the Care Quality Commission found it didn't meet minimum safety standards.

Lucy Williams has schizophrenia. Her condition is managed with medication but sometimes, when it gets worse, she needs to go to a safe environment with nurses.

That's meant going to the Kentmere Ward at Kendal's Westmorland General Hospital.

The Care Quality Commission found the Kentmere unit doesn't meet minimum requirements because:

• Men and women are on the same ward

• Patients are in dormitories not single rooms

• Patients have to walk through the hospital to get to the garden

Lucy says the mixed dormitory or location of the garden has never been a problem but the Trust says it's important to provide the best care.

It says patients like Lucy can be cared for at home or at other hospitals like Barrow, but she says that's too far for her family to visit.

Patients with concerns about the news can contact Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's patient support line at this number - 01228 602128.