Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, has slammed a decision by the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) not to act on recommendations in an independent review it commissioned which called for the process which led to the decision to close Yewdale Ward at West Cumberland Hospital to be rerun.
The independent review secured by Mr MacAlister delivered a damning verdict on the process followed by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Trust;
- CNTW did not fully consider or present alternative ways of keeping mental health beds in West Cumbria.
- CNTW failed to meaningfully involve patients and the public at an early stage, raising serious doubts about whether legal duties to involve were properly discharged.
- Engagement was carried out too late and created a perception that decisions were already predetermined, undermining trust in the process.
The review recommended that the process be rerun in full, with proper consideration of all options and meaningful early involvement of patients and families and elected representatives.
However, following a meeting between the ICB and the Conservative Chairman of Cumberland Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, the ICB has decided not to act on the recommendations and allow the closure to go ahead unchallenged, despite overwhelming opposition from the people of West Cumbria.
Josh said:
“I was extremely angry and frustrated to receive a letter from the ICB confirming that, following a meeting with the Conservative Chairman of Cumberland Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, they have decided not to act on the recommendation of the independent review I secured which advised that they force Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust to rerun their decision making and consultation process – as it was flawed from the start.
“I wrote to the Health Scrutiny Committee imploring them to support my effort to have the ICB take this action but I received no response from the committee’s Conservative Chairman. I am very disappointed that the ICB and the Chair of the committee have decided to act against advice and the community of West Cumbria and allow CNTW to get away with running a flawed and seemingly pre-determined process to close Yewdale ward. This is a betrayal of West Cumbria.
“I’ll be raising this with health ministers and seeking to ensure that any future attempt to change health services in West Cumbria MUST go through a full and fair decision making process, requiring consideration of all possible options and extensive formal public engagement and consultation. However, I fear this is sadly the end of the road for our effort to prevent the closure at this time of Yewdale ward.”
Josh MacAlister MP 