RESIDENTS are being urged to speak out about plans to remove vital health services from a community hospital after councillors warned the proposals could cost lives.

A public consultation into the provision of consultancy-led maternity services from the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven has left communities fearing the worst.

The proposal, which is part of the government-led Success Regime plan to reform healthcare in Cumbria, is set to have a substantial effect on Millom families who choose to have their babies in Whitehaven.

Determined to maintain this facility for people in the town, councillors are now calling on individuals to make a stand and protect their health service.

Councillor Felicity Wilson said: "People need to have a look at what the impact is going to be on Millom and south Copeland.

"Individual members of the public can respond to the consultation and it's far, far better if individuals take that action themselves.

"People need to make their own representations."

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The 12-week consultation was launched at the end of September but members of the public still have until mid-December to return their feedback.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed is also urging people across the borough to respond to the consultation by drawing a line through the maternity proposals and writing "24hr CLU@WHC" in its place and returning the document.

Community leaders have been left shocked by the proposals, which wouldsee West Cumberland Hospital lose its 24-hour consultancy-led maternity and paediatric provision.

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Instead, women in the midst of complicated births will be forced to make the 40-mile journey to Carlisle in the middle of the night to receive the life-saving care they and their babies require.

Millom mayor, Councillor Doug Wilson, said this suggestion was not good enough for people in the town and that the decision "would ultimately lead to death."

After discussing the issue at Millom Town Council meeting on Wednesday night, councillors are now turning to members of the public to do all they can to stand against the proposal by returning their consultation document.

Councillors warn that any changes to the service as it stands will have a deterimental effect on families in the area.

Councillor Jack Park said: "My main concern is the journey. If there's any complication with the birth, the time it would take to get to hospital would need an extra 40 minutes to get to Carlisle."

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However, Councillor Jane Micklethwaite warned that the area was facing a bigger challenge which is leading to proposals such as the removal of this vital health service.

Cllr Micklethwaite said that a 24-hour consultancy-led maternity service would naturally require a huge team of specialists from consultants to anaesthetists.

She said: "The issue is about staff and recruitment as much as it is about money.

"We have moved a long way towards getting a university status but it's going to be a long procedure to build up that reputation and get people in to train.

"Anything short of a 24-hour consultancy-led service is going to be taking risks with people's lives but there's a big gap between that and our recruitment levels."