Decision day for health services in Cumbria

Councillors have decided to refer plans to change maternity services in west Cumbria to the Health Secretary, in a crunch meeting today.

It means proposals to downgrade consultant-led maternity care at the West Cumberland Hospital will go before Jeremy Hunt.

They had initially also voted to refer two other proposals: changes to how sick children are cared for, and plans to close beds at community hospitals in Wigton, Alston and Maryport.

However, the final decision of the Health and Scrutiny Committee was to accept these two proposals, while rejecting the maternity plans and referring them to the Health Secretary.

The health scrutiny committee has approved plans to make changes to emergency and acute services in north and west Cumbria.

At the meeting today, councillors approved proposed changes to the following:

• Emergency surgery
• Trauma services
• Orthopaedic services
• Hyper-acute stroke services

The committee has voted to refer the proposal to reduce community hospital beds to the Health Secretary.

Councillors have voted overwhelmingly against proposed changes to maternity services in Cumbria.

The government-appointed Success Regime has outlined proposals to downgrade maternity services at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, from a consultant-led unit to a midwife-led unit.

But at a meeting of Cumbria's Health Scrutiny Committee today, councillors voted by ten to one to refer the proposals to the Health Secretary.

Earlier, they had voted to refer plans to change the children's health service in west Cumbria to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

A final decision will be taken at the end of today's meeting.

More on the story.

People were 'misled' about plans to change maternity services in west Cumbria, it has been claimed.

Councillors are debating the issue at today's Health Scrutiny meeting where they have already voted to reject a shake-up of treatment for seriously sick children.

Now the day long meeting has moved on to maternity issues and councillors have claimed people were "misled" into thinking there would be a dedicated ambulance offered for maternity transfers only.

But health officials say they made it clear in briefing notes that the ambulance would also be used for paediatric transfers.

Councillors have voted against plans to change children's health service in west Cumbria.

They have been expressing their concerns about the risks of transferring sick children by ambulance between west Cumbria and Carlisle.

Cumbria's Health Scrutiny Committee is meeting to discuss proposed changes to the county's health services which would see seriously ill children treated in Carlisle rather than west Cumbria.

A recommendation to refer children's services proposals back to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was voted through by eight votes to three.

A final decision at the end of today's meeting.

During the debate councillors said a dedicated ambulance to take children from Whitehaven to Carlisle wouldn't "provide safe service."

Councillors arriving for the meeting this morning were met by protestors calling for them to reject plans to cut community hospital beds in Maryport, Alston and Wigton.

There will be a full report on today's meeting in tonight's Lookaround at 6pm.

More follows

Protestors have gathered ahead of a council meeting, which will determine whether controversial healthcare changes will go ahead.

Today, Cumbria's health scrutiny committee will decide whether to accept or reject the Success Regime's decision to close inpatient beds at three cottage hospitals - Maryport, Wigton and Alston.

The panel of district and county councillors has the power to refer the matter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

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Councillors are meeting today to discuss the future of health services in Cumbria.

It comes two weeks after health bosses announced inpatient beds at three cottage hospitals will close.

Last week Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young said the loss of beds in Alston, Wigton and Maryport should be halted until alternative solutions are in place and fully funded.

Now Cumbria County Council's health scrutiny committee will decide whether to accept or reject the decision and is also being urged to oppose plans to treat seriously sick children in Carlisle rather than west Cumbria.

The panel of district and county councillors has the power to refer the matter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Health bosses say they are "keen to collaborate" with Cumbria County Council, over the closure of beds at the county's community hospitals.

The NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group released a statement, after the leader of the council called for urgent talks over the plans, which will see the loss of beds in Alston, Wigton and Maryport.