Health officials: hospital plans will 'save lives'

Health officials say they understand the concerns of the people who demonstrated in west Cumbria last night but say they need to ensure services are safe and save lives.

Around four thousand people went to the town's rugby league ground to question health officials about their plans for the new West Cumberland Hospital, which is nearly finished.

They're worried that some services are being transferred to Carlisle, 40 miles away.

The North Cumbria NHS Trust says only high risk operations have been moved, because of a lack of qualified staff in Whitehaven, and mortality rates have fallen as a result.

Many people raised particular concerns about the future of consultant-led maternity services at the hospital.

But Dr. David Rogers, of NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, says the preferred option is to see it remain in Whitehaven.

After the meeting he spoke to our reporter, Tim Backshall.