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Tim Farron: Westmorland hospital ward 'safe if staffed properly'

Tim Farron MP says staffinf levels need to be improved at the Westmorland General ward Credit: PA

Following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission into mental health wards run by the Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust, South Lakes MP, Tim Farron, has said that improvements are mainly needed in staffing and not the physical space.

The report found that a number of the wards 'required improvement'.

The MP who in 2016 campaigned to keep the Kentmere ward at Westmorland General Hospital open, says it is well maintained.

This report makes it clear that Kentmere ward is clean, well maintained with safe spaces for patients. The concerns that the CQC has are around psychiatric medical cover overnight and at weekends and the incident response systems.

“The Partnership Trust need to take immediate action to improve staffing levels on the Kentmere ward – and given the CQC’s comments, the Trust must not use this as an excuse to try and close the ward again.”

– Tim Farron MP, South Lakes