We are writing as a concerned group of organisations regarding the announcement of the closure at the end of June of the Kentmere Ward mental health in-patient facility at Westmorland General Hospital at Kendal.

We believe the closure represents a retrograde step for in-patient mental health care here in South Lakeland.

We understand there are some proposals regarding improved 24 hour services and group work provision in Kendal, which we welcome, but it is not certain if in-patient services will remain at Kendal in future.

The provision of four additional in-patient beds at Barrow will lead to a net loss of eight in-patient beds. The current demand for in-patient beds is such that the immediate loss of eight beds in South Lakeland will be detrimental to the provision of mental health care in South Lakeland and cause unnecessary distress and hardship to patients and their families.

We would all agree that the facilities on Kentmere Ward, as outlined by the Care Quality Commission report, were not ideal. It is very disappointing, however, that the Trust has chosen to close the facility rather than upgrading it to the level required by the CQC, or investing in alternative local in-patient provision.

We are concerned to note that the consultation on a medium to long-term strategy regarding the provision of inpatient beds in Cumbria and South Lakeland will not take place until later in the year after the closure of Kentmere Ward.

When an individual reaches the point that they require in-patient care the support services, statutory, third sector and family, which are vital to their wellbeing are currently geographically close to the provision of the in-patient care. By closing the facility here in Kendal the in-patient care will now be removed from the location of the support services. We believe that this will increase the demand and cost of the currently already stretched statutory and third sector support services and increase the distress within family support structures.

We are asking that the decision to close the Kentmere Ward in June be reversed. In addition, we would ask that no further decision on the future of Kentmere Ward is made until after the consultation and when a medium to long-term strategy for mental health in-patient beds in Cumbria and South Lakeland has been developed.

Colin Reynolds

Chair – South Lakeland Mind

Mat Butler

Chair and Creative Manager – Space2Create

Paul Edwards

Chair – Growing Well

Colin Greaves

Chair – Manna House

Linda Cooper

Chair – South Lakes Carers

Diane Winder

Chair – Riversiders Trust

Clive Wrigley

Chair – Oaklea Trust