Mental health ward to be closed

Kentmere Ward will be permanently closed at the end of June, leaving an uncertain future for mental health care in South Lakeland.

The decision to close the 12-bed ward at Westmorland General Hospital, which cares for people with acute psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and severe depression, follows quality and safety issues raised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Described as 'not fit for purpose' due to small and poorly furnished rooms and gender segregation guidelines not being met, the ward closure announcement was made by Cumbria Partnership Trust during Mental Health Awareness Week.

The trust said it had no other option but to axe the unit, even though the quality of care at Kentmere was classed as 'good' by inspectors.

However, users of the service, MPs and charities have all expressed concerns over the loss of the centre and the impact it could have on the vulnerable patients who rely on it.

Debbie, who has been a regular inpatient at Kentmere Ward for the past eight years, said she had been left feeling 'frightened' at the prospect of losing Kentmere.

For patients like Debbie, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 15 years ago and regularly spends up to eight weeks on the ward, the partnership will provide an additional four beds on the Dova Unit at Furness General Hospital, Barrow-in-Furness.

Debbie, who has previously been sent to Whitehaven when beds were unavailable at Kentmere, said that travelling not only incurred a financial cost but also removed the stability offered by the Kendal unit.

"It was a bit of a nightmare because it was over 70 miles away," Debbie said. "I felt very vulnerable.

"The nurses know me [in Kentmere] and know how to treat me. I think it's a really good service, it's very friendly and caring."

Mat Butler, who manages the Space2Create charity, which offers weekly art sessions for Kentmere inpatients, has said that the physical space of the unit is important, and the same stability cannot be offered when patients have to travel.

"People are already being sent to Whitehaven and Carlisle, in one case someone was sent to Newcastle," he said. "It's like being in an isolated cell. It's essential that you have people to rely on. Your close friends and family."

Colin Reynolds, chair of South Lakeland Mind, said the charity has seen an increase in demand for its services and the closure of the ward would add to this.

"The Government has said that it intends to put mental health care on the same footing as physical health care and the reduction of mental health provision locally would be a retrograde step for local people who need support with their mental well-being," he said. "When an individual requires acute inpatient care they need the support of their family and friends. This can be a difficult period for all involved. The fact that to visit a family member in an inpatient environment could involve a two hour round trip could add to that sense of difficulty."

The partnership has said that from July it will be expanding community services in Kendal to provide crisis resolution and home treatment services.

Dr Andrew Brittlebank, medical director for the partnership, said that by bringing care into the community, more people will be looked after.

"We have to make sure that people of Kendal have access to somewhere that is good enough," he said. "Over the last year we have taken a number of steps to improve the privacy and dignity of our patients including putting up divides between the dormitory beds and increasing our staffing levels so that we can ensure patients are escorted for access to outside space.

"However, what is clear is that we have exhausted all actions possible within the current environment and we simply cannot provide single rooms or better access to outside space from the footprint of the Kentmere unit."

The long term solution for the provision of inpatient beds across Cumbria, including South Lakes, will form part of a countywide mental health consultation being planned for later this year.

This is not the first time that Kentmere ward has been under threat. Ten years ago, protesters lined the streets of Kendal to campaign against the ward's closure.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has launched an online petition calling for the ward's improvement, as well as delivering a letter to health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

"Mental health services are absolutely critical. Local people in vulnerable situations rely on these services, and government cuts cannot be allowed to push this ward into closing," Mr Farron said. "Closing this ward would be a backwards step for mental health care in South Lakeland."