PLANS to remove 24-hour consultant-led services from west Cumbria's hospital have been labelled "dangerous".

The proposal to send complex births from West Cumberland Hospital, in Whitehaven, to Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary during the evenings was a key area of concern for those attending a public consultation meeting in Millom yesterday.

The public, and also former midwives, who attended the Success Regime Healthcare for the Future consultation at The Guide Hall are against the maternity plan.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed has urged prime minister Theresa May to ensure that 24-hour consultant-led maternity services are retained at the West Cumberland Hospital so that the people of west Cumbria will be able to access a "safe maternity service for mother and baby".

Health minister Phillip Dunne MP visited the West Cumberland Hospital last week and Mr Reed said he saw "the dangers" of removing the service.

Mr Reed said: “Following her statement on the importance of maternity safety, the prime minister must now turn her words into actions by intervening to ensure the retention of consultant led maternity services at the West Cumberland Hospital.

“At her first Prime Minister’s Questions, I asked Theresa May to visit the West Cumberland Hospital to see for herself the damage being caused by the policies of her government, and I write regularly to her, calling on her to provide us with the resources that we need to build a health economy to overcome the unique challenges that we face here in west Cumbria. To date, I am yet to receive a reply.

“However, a government minister has now seen for himself that the removal of 24-hour consultant led services from the West Cumberland Hospital would be dangerous. Assurances have been given by the health secretary to maternity services in North Devon, which is also subject to the Success Regime process, and now is the time for assurances to also be afforded to the people of west Cumbria. To continue to refuse to intervene immediately would not only be discourteous, it would be irresponsible and could cost lives.”

While Millom councillor Felicity Wilson felt this consultation meeting was more focused to the needs of the Millom area, she said: "Sixty per cent of ladies from Millom and Haverigg choose to travel north to West Cumberland Hospital to have their babies.

"Removing the 24-hour consultant-led services from the West Cumberland Hospital is a retrograde step.

"I feel it is a dangerous move."

Mrs Wilson and Eileen Turner, of West Cumbrians' Voice for Healthcare, both hope those in the Millom and west Cumbria communities get involved in the consultation.

Mrs Turner, of Muncaster, said alongside the maternity services, the plans to have stroke care in Carlisle rather than West Cumberland Hospital are concerning.

The consultation says the health and social care system faces a number of challenges and that changes to the way services are delivered are needed to maintain decent services for the future.

The public are encouraged take part in the consultation, which runs until December 19, at www.wnecumbria.nhs.uk/

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