Farron: South Cumbria must not be overlooked by new health boss

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron has warned that the Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust must not overlook the south of the county, following the news that the leader of the North Cumbrian NHS Trust will take charge of the Cumbria Partnership's services.

The Cumbria Partnership has announced that Stephen Eames will take over as interim Chief Executive following the departure of Claire Molloy. Stephen Eames is currently the Chief Executive of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. He is also the lead for the West North and East Cumbria Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP). The move means that Stephen Eames will be in charge of the vast majority of health services in North Cumbria.

Tim has warned that these changes must not mean that South Cumbria ends up overlooked by the Cumbria Partnership Trust. The Cumbria Partnership Trust runs mental health services in the south of Cumbria, including the Kentmere mental health ward at Westmorland General Hospital and the PCAS centre as well as range of other services.

Tim said: "This change means that one Chief Executive will end up running almost all health services across the north of the county, and then providing some additional services here in the south.

"This change must not mean that South Cumbria is overlooked, and the needs of local residents here in South Lakeland considered a less important priority.

"The Cumbria Partnership provides vital local health services including mental health provision. These services make a real difference to our community and must not be forgotten by a Chief Executive whose work will be focused around the north of the county."