Row over mental health care in Cumbria
An MP is calling for an investigation into mental health care in Cumbria, after it was revealed 59 patients have been sent out of the county for treatments in the last year.
Sue Hayman, the Labour MP for Workington, sent a letter to the Prime Minister calling for a "thorough investigation".
She told ITV Border she sent the letter because a number of constituents had contacted her with concerns about their relatives being sent many miles away for mental health treatments.
One of her constituents said her 14-year-old daughter was being treated in Middlesbrough, because she requires specialist in-patient care.
She said the distance was putting her daughter, and their entire family, under pressure - emotionally and also financially.
The NHS Trust in charge of mental health care in Cumbria says that while 59 patients have been transferred out of the county, in 2016 there were 1,305 inpatient admissions in county with a further 274,383 contacts made with mental health services across Cumbria.
Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust says it has invited Sue Hayman to meet with senior mental health clinicians.
ITV Border has also approached the Department of Health for comment.
A spokesperson told us: "of course it is completely unacceptable for patients to be sent hundreds of miles away from their family and friends for treatment — but that is exactly why we've committed to end inappropriate placements by 2020."
"We were the first country in the world to legislate for parity of esteem and we're going to make sure it happens by reforming outdated mental health laws and with waiting time targets to improve standards of care.”