MP CALLS FOR RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ELDERLY DEMENTIA CARE AT WESTMORLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL

Two years after the closure of Ward 2, the elderly mental health ward at Kendal's Westmorland General Hospital, South Lakes MP Tim Farron has asked trust bosses to open a new facility for older people with dementia related illnesses.

"The Royal Lancaster Infirmary is shipping many patients with dementia to the Westmorland General. They should either stop this, or else re-open one of the mothballed wards at Westmorland General as an elderly mental health ward. That ward must then be staffed by expert nursing staff," said Mr Farron.

Mr Farron has called on Tony Halsall, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, and Stephen Dalton, chief executive of the Cumbria Mental Health Partnership Trust to fast-track plans to open a new elderly mental health ward.

Mr Farron added: "Nursing staff and patients alike are suffering due to the lack of specialist provision at the Westmorland General. This pressure is as a result of the trust's decision to go ahead with service cuts last summer - they owe it to their outstanding nurses and to all patients to take action now to provide the right care for those with additional needs."