A DECISION on the future of mental health and learning disability services in south Cumbria has been delayed.

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has advised that following a meeting last week, they had agreed in principal that mental health and learning disability services in north Cumbria would be transferred to Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

The board said in a statement they felt the move "would provide the best outcome for patients in the long term to improve the quality of services."

They have now proposed to develop a full business case with a view to transferring services to Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust in October 2019.

However, the CPFT said with regards to south Cumbria, they had delayed their judgement on progressing to a full business case pending the outcome of quality assurance work at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

“In south Cumbria, LCFT is also offering new services such as the perinatal community services and already provide pathways for more specialist services such as forensic services," said CPFT chief executive Stephen Eames.

"We are committed to continue to build our working partnership, however the board has decided to delay judgement on progressing to develop a full business case until the quality assurance process for the south is complete.”