National health service organisations currently have a duty to involve and consult patients, the public and their representatives in the planning and development of services, and to consult them on changes to the operation of services.
Kentmere Ward at the Westmorland General is the responsibility of the Cumbria Partnership NHS trust. NHS North West reports that the ward has been closed temporarily on clinical safety grounds due to problems around recruitment to key posts. A recruitment exercise is currently under way.