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Torchlit protest outside West Cumberland Hospital

Protesters against cuts to services at Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital held a torchlit march last night.

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Protestors hold torchlit procession

Protesters held a torchlit procession last night Credit: ITV Border

Protesters against cuts to services at Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital held a torchlit march last night.

The "We need West Cumberland Hospital" Group say that thirty-three services in West Cumbria have either been lost or are under threat, and that moving them to Carlisle is putting public safety at risk.

A new £90,000,000 hospital is being built in Whitehaven but protesters say that the loss of services may not be addressed by this.

Protestors say that moving some services to Carlisle is putting public safety at risk Credit: ITV Border

However, the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust is arguing that services have been improved under the new structure.

It also says that it's important to note that some of the "threatened" services may not actually be under threat.

"Following the centralisation of all complex high risk surgery at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle in 2013, the number of deaths of people from West Cumbria associated with emergency surgery has fallen by over 50%, showing that this was absolutely the right decision for our patients.

“The new £90 million West Cumberland Hospital will ensure that the vast majority of people living in West Cumbria will continue receive their healthcare locally. The new hospital will offer a range of services including an emergency floor with A&E, ambulatory care, ITU and critical care, seven state of the art operating theatres and improved diagnostic services."

– A spokesperson for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

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