MP fights for better access to youth mental health services in South Cumbria

Local MP Tim Farron has written to Jeremy Hunt and the Morecambe Bay NHS, urging them to improve youth mental health services.

Currently, young people in the South Lakes can only access the specialist mental health crisis team from 9-5 on weekdays.

The crisis team in the North of the county however is open from 9-8, with a weekend service from 10-1.

Tim is pushing for South Cumbria to have the same opening hours for the crisis service as the North of the county, and asked Jeremy Hunt for the resources to make it happen.

Last week a CQC report into Cumbria Partnership Trust found that the 'responsiveness' of youth mental health services has fallen from 'requires improvement' to 'inadequate'.

Tim said; "Mental health crises don't just happen during office hours, so it is important that young people can get help whenever they need it.

"The Partnership Trust has been deemed inadequate for many reasons, but access to mental health services for young people was particularly lacking.

"That's why I've written to the Secretary of State for Health urging him to provide an emergency funding package for our mental health services in South Cumbria.

"We must put an end to young people with mental health problems continuously being short-changed."

"When I meet young people with mental health conditions and their families, the message is clear. They need good quality services that are easy to get into and that don't have long waiting times. Jeremy Hunt must listen to them."