Whitehaven and Workington MP, Josh MacAlister, has slammed the handling of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Trust’s decision to close Yewdale Ward after an independent review exposed major failings.

The independent review, commissioned by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), delivers a damning verdict on the process followed by CNTW.

Josh MacAlister MP said: “This review confirms what people here in West Cumbria have feared all along – the process was unfair, rushed, and one-sided.

“Patients, families and elected representatives weren’t genuinely involved. Alternatives weren’t properly explored.

“The impact on those who can least afford it – carers, families, people in crisis – wasn’t fully considered.

“Closing Yewdale Ward on the back of such a flawed process is unacceptable.

“The ICB must now step in and get CNTW to rerun this process.

“West Cumbria deserves mental health services that are safe, accessible, and shaped with local people – not decisions handed down from above.

“I hope councillors will agree with me and urge the ICB to implement the report’s recommendations in full.”

It finds:

● 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.

● The options appraisal was incomplete and one-sided: CNTW did not fully consider or present alternative ways of keeping mental health beds in West Cumbria.

● Engagement was carried out too late and created a perception that decisions were already predetermined, undermining trust in the process.

● No comprehensive travel impact assessment was undertaken, despite the closure meaning patients and families would have to travel 40 miles to Carlisle – a move that risks worsening health inequalities.

● There was a lack of clarity with the local Health Scrutiny Committee, raising concerns over whether statutory consultation duties were met.

The review recommends that the process must be rerun in full, with proper consideration of all options, meaningful involvement of patients and families, a comprehensive travel impact assessment, and clear agreement with local democratic scrutiny.

The ICB will meet with Cumberland Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee in the coming weeks to seek their view on the recommendations before deciding how to proceed.

The Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Trust has been contacted for a comment.