This letter appeared in the Whitehaven News on 29th January 2025:
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust’s engagement exercise on the future of Yewdale ward closed last week. I met the chief executive of the trust shortly before it closed and know that a huge number of people responded. From my conversations with residents, I expect that these responses will be overwhelmingly opposed to the closure of the ward.
It was therefore disappointing to see the Trust making the case for the closure in last week’s newspaper.
They have yet to fully address the concerns raised by me or others about how they will reduce demand for acute inpatient services below the number of beds that will remain in Cumbria at the Carlton Clinic in Carlisle, if Yewdale closes.
The Trust have been given additional money by the Government to pilot a new early intervention open access community mental health service in Whitehaven, which is very welcome. I want this service to be an additional resource and if it works it may well over time reduce demand for acute services like those at Yewdale. But it is irresponsible to remove an acute service like the Yewdale ward before forms of earlier intervention have been opened, let alone given time to demonstrate that they work.
Here in West Cumbria, we have some of the greatest mental health needs in the country so any changes should be made with great care and based on evidence.
This is why I oppose these plans from the Trust. It appears as though they have made up their minds, even before a full consultation has been completed. We need and deserve mental health services that help people live happier lives and that are within reach of where they live. That’s why I’ll continue to push for a pause and a rethink.
Residents can support my campaign at joshmacalister.uk/yewdale
Josh MacAlister OBE MP
Labour MP for Whitehaven & Workington
Josh MacAlister MP 