Readers have been sharing their thoughts after councillors received a report on the reality facing a psychiatric ward that was temporarily closed.

Cumbria County Council's health scrutiny committee met at Cumbria House on Monday and were briefed by NHS bosses on the temporary closure of the Rowanwood Ward at Carleton Clinic.

Rowanwood Ward is a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit based at Carleton Clinic in Carlisle. Rowanwood Ward was temporarily closed on August 31 due to low staffing.

David Muir, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Group Director of Operations and Ramona Duguid, Chief Operating Officer presented a report on the situation.

In their report, they explain that a decision to reduce bed availability to six beds was made in July 2021 to mitigate risk and alleviate the pressure on a small team of temporary staff. Low staffing was set to become worse in August when nurses were set to move on to new posts.

Here's what you, the readers, had to say.

Heather Marie Berry said: "What is the reason? At a time there is a mental health crisis its not the time to be taking services away."

Anna Falcon replied, saying: "the simple answer is lack of staff, the same being true across the NHS."

CNTW remains committed to offering inpatient mental health facilities in North Cumbria and are banking on remedial works to alleviate dormitory accommodation in Oakwood Ward on the Carleton Clinic site.

They are also counting on £1.8 million in refurbishments to the Hadrian Unit.

CNTW has set up a Recruitment and Retention Task Force and job postings for nurses in mental health are on a rolling advert.