Victory for mental health campaigners in Kendal

Westmorland General Hospital's Kentmere Ward has been under threat since May, with announcements from the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) that they intended to close it. 

The Trust cited a Care Quality Commission report which highlighted flaws in the ward's environment, particularly regarding gender segregation and access to outdoor space. 

However, it has now been decided by the Trust's board of directors, that the risk of closing the ward temporarily is greater than keeping it open. 

Claire Molloy, chief executive of CPFT said: "Whilst we acknowledge that Kentmere does not meet the standards of modern mental health inpatient care, we are satisfied that the actions taken over the past few months are managing the risks posed by the environment on a short term basis. 

“It is clear from the feedback that the staff who work on Kentmere are highly valued and there has been much praise for the kind and compassionate care they provide."

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South Lakes MP Tim Farron's planned protest march through Kendal on Saturday (July 30) will now turn into a victory march. Mr Farron has said that although this is a 'real win', the community must stay 'vigilant' and keep up the pressure on health bosses to find an alternative space within Westmorland General Hospital for the mental health ward. 

Having campaigned alongside Mr Farron to keep Kentmere open, The Gazette encourages readers to attend the march with a poster that they can find on page 28 of this week's edition. 

Westmorland Gazette Editor Andrew Thomas said: “This is good news but there is no room for complacency. Local health bosses must continue to be reminded of the importance that local people put on retaining a mental health unit – and other services – at Westmorland General Hospital."

Protestors should assemble at Abbot Hall Park at 1.30pm on Saturday (July 30), before the march sets off at 1.45pm.

For more on this story, see next week's Gazette (August 4).