Councillors vote against changes to maternity services

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.

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