Future of local mental health services are being left in limbo by Trust - MP

Local MP Tim Farron has slammed Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust for leaving the future of mental health services in the south of the county in limbo.

In a statement released today, the Trust announced that, while agreeing to transfer mental health and learning disability services in the north of the county to Northumberland NHS Trust, they have decided to "delay judgement" on the future of those services in South Cumbria.

Tim has repeatedly raised concerns over the Trust's ability to deliver mental health services after a CQC report into the Trust earlier this year found that the 'responsiveness' of youth mental health services had fallen from 'requires improvement' to 'inadequate'.

On top of this, recent figures from the Trust shows that they are badly missing targets when it comes to eating disorder services, with over three quarters of young people with eating disorders not being seen by a psychologist within the national standard of four weeks.

Tim said: "Mental health services in South Cumbria are already in crisis, but this latest announcement from the Partnership Trust shows that the future of those services are being further left in limbo.

"Once again, the people of Cumbria are being treated as the end of the line, with us in the south of the country being treated as a poor relation to a poor relation.

"For the sake of the hundreds of people who find themselves in increasing desperate situations without mental health care, the Trust need to get their act together and fast."