WESTMORLAND General Hospital is set to benefit from the investment of £150,000 to secure mental health services at the site.

Plans for the new facilities - which will see 30 staff relocated to one unit - were shown to Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron at a launch event on Monday.

Whilst no new jobs are to be created, the move will secure the future of the service at WGH, which has seen vital services cut over the last few years.

Work will begin early next year and will take six months to complete, but health bosses say that at no time will parts of the hospital be closed.

“It’s fantastic to see new investment in services at Westmorland General Hospital – after years of losing services at our hospital, we are now seeing real progress,” said Mr Farron.

“In a rural area such as South Lakeland the provision of community services is vital – especially for people with mental health problems who may feel more isolated and vulnerable.

"Integrating services makes real sense and I am really pleased to see early priority being given to creating joined up services. Westmorland General Hospital is exactly the right place to locate these services.

"This bodes well for the future.”

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is using money left over from its surplus fund to create modern outpatient and office facilities at the Kirkstone, Garburn and Kentmere units on the site.

The move will bring together all specialist mental health staff from South Lakeland into one location in a move which the Trust says will enable better integration to support the community.

Existing staff will be moved from the adult community mental health team at Kinta House in the town to WGH and the crisis and resolution home treatment team will now be located directly next to the Kentmere inpatient unit.

A new entrance way to Kentmere Unit is being developed and better facilities will be available for people to be assessed.

Stephen Dalton, Chief Executive of Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said, “This new investment will support better integration of the expertise that exists within our community services.

“For the first time community teams will be based alongside the ward with crisis teams and all staff will have better access to advice and support from consultants and staff within different specialist areas.

“It will also improve the environment for staff and for the people coming to use the facilities in modern, contemporary surroundings conducive to delivering high quality care in a high quality environment.”