Trust denies threat to eye services at WCH

The North Cumbria Acute Services NHS Trusts have denied that there is any truth in rumours of a threat to opthalmology services at West Cumberland Hospital.

The West Cumbria Society for the blind had heard rumours that the hospital might lose eye services and wrote to the PCT asking if there were any plans for such a change. According to a report which will be carried in tomorrow's Whitehaven News, both the PCT and the Acute Services Trust have categorically stated that there are no such plans.

Details of Mental Health consultation

Details of Cumbria PCT's public consultation on mental health can be obtained by ringing 08447 280107 or by email on nhsconsultation@cumbriapct.nhs.uk

They can also be found on the Cumbra PCT website which is

www.cumbriapct.nhs.uk

NHS Mental Health services consultation starts

Following on from "Closer to Home" Cumbria PCT is about to start another hospital consultation, this time on mental health.

This is a "Cinderella" service in the sense that it is much less glamorous that Acute or GP services and is often neglected. But many people depend on this servicemost of us will have someone in our family who needs this service at some stage during our lives.

I hope that as many people as possible will look at the consultation document and take the trouble to respond.

Another Dentist to leave the NHS

Yet another Whitehaven dentist's surgery is to stop providing NHS services.

I understand their reasons for taking this decision but this is not going to be good news for local residents on low incomes.

It is essential that the government urgently reviews the provision of NHS dentistry, especially in remote areas like Cumbria, and establishes a more sustainable service.