KENDAL'S mental health ward is to stay open over the summer.

Discussions will now take place regarding whether Kentmere Ward at Westmorland General Hospital can be saved.

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said yesterday (Wednesday) that it had delayed the closure of the ward 'following significant concerns expressed by service users, carers and the community'.

Claire Molloy, chief executive of the trust, said that the feedback from the community and partners had been 'overwhelming'.

She said the trust had been in discussions with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to gain 'complete clarity' in what was necessary to meet minimum regulatory standards before any final decision was made.

"Since we made the announcement, we have been working with the CQC to understand whether we may in fact be able to safely manage some of the issues in the short term with minor upgrades to meet minimum regulatory standards," she said. "We therefore need to fully assess whether the actions proposed will negate the need for any urgent action, and therefore we will delay any decision about temporarily closing the unit until we have a full assessment of this, taking a final decision with our partners later in the summer."

Earlier this week, Kendal town councillors slammed the potential closure of the town's mental health ward as 'disgraceful'.

They resolved to invite Ms Molloy, a Cumbria County Council scrutiny committee representative and an operational manager from Kentmere Ward to attend a meeting with them to discuss their concerns.

Cllr Graham Vincent, a former health and wellbeing portfolio holder on South Lakeland District Council, said his concerns still stand.

"Claire Molloy says that the trust understands that mental health services at the Kentmere Ward are highly valued," he said. "What is not being said is that the trust understands and acknowledges that this local service is needed, and needs to be provided locally."

The trust said that alongside their full assessment, they will also develop options for an interim service model to be implemented if a temporary closure is necessary.

Last week, the Westmorland Gazette relaunched its 'Hands Off Our Hospital' campaign and has since received a flurry of responses from readers.

"This is a welcome step in the right direction ," said Andrew Thomas, the Gazette's head of content. "The trust should exhaust every possibility before removing adult mental health services remain at Westmorland General Hospital."