Health Minister agrees to meet with Tim Farron over South Cumbria mental health crisis

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, local MP Tim Farron challenged government ministers to intervene over the lack of a dedicated mental health crisis team for young people in South Cumbria.

Tim said: “Those providing child and adolescent mental health services in South Cumbria do an outstanding job, but they are without a dedicated crisis team, unlike the rest of Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. 

“That is devastating and dangerous for my constituents.

“Will the Minister use his power to intervene with the integrated care board and Lancashire and South Cumbria to make sure that young people in our communities have access to a crisis team?”

Responding, the Minister of State for Health, Stephen Kinnock said: “I thank the honourable gentleman for that question and the passion with which he put it. We are committed to rolling out Young Futures hubs across the country and, of course, we need to prioritise areas of particular need. 

“I would be happy to meet him to discuss that further.”

Speaking afterwards, Tim said:  “The crisis work that does happen is done by therapists working with young people.

“That means they’ve got to drop the young people they were meant to be seeing on their regular appointments in order to deal with crises.

“I am determined that we are going to solve that problem and I’m pleased that the minister has agreed to meet with me to help us to do that.”