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

CNTW NHS Foundation Trust made the controversial decision to close the inpatient mental health unit, based at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, at a board meeting held in April.

Hope Haven, a new mental health hub, will provide community-based support in Whitehaven town centre and extra beds are due to be added at The Carleton Clinic in Carlisle.

Mr MacAlister and Cumberland councillors wrote to the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) to request an independent investigation into the process followed by CNTW in reaching its decision.

The review, which has now been published by Olovus, 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.

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.”

CNTW announced last week that Hope Haven had launched a ‘Virtual Safe Haven’ service, which offers one-off video call appointments between 4pm and midnight, seven days a week.

The virtual sessions are run by trained mental health support workers from Everyturn Mental Health, one of Hope Haven’s partners. They can help with social, emotional and practical issues, and work with people to agree a plan for ongoing support.

People can now book an appointment online by visiting the Hope Haven webpage.