Tim Farron asks minister to intervene over mental health staffing crisis

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron challenged ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care to take action over staffing gaps in local mental health wards.

It comes after inspectors at the Care Quality Commission found that Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust has failed to improve after struggling with staff shortages.

Speaking during Health Questions in Parliament, Tim said: “This month the Care Quality Commission found high levels of staff vacancies in the already understaffed psychiatric intensive care units and acute mental health wards in South Cumbria, concluding that this is putting patient safety “at risk”. 

“Yet, worryingly, the ICB in South Cumbria is making additional cuts of £142 million this year, with North Cumbria also making cuts. In the light of that, what is his plan to intervene to ensure that mental health staffing in Cumbria is increased to safe levels?”

Responding the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock said: “I thank the honourable member for that. There is no doubt that the NHS, universities and others need to do more to get students, trainees and qualified doctors and mental health specialists in places where the NHS and patients need them. 

“We will publish a refreshed workforce plan later this year to ensure that the NHS has the right people in the right places to care for patients when they need it.”