Consultant-led maternity WILL REMAIN at the West Cumberland Hospital.
Following years and years of campaigning, protests and social media pages setup, a decision has finally been made regarding the future of maternity care in West Cumbria.
Top health bosses have made the decision at a meeting today.
Hundreds of people flooded into the Civic Hall at Cleator Moor to hear the decision.
If it was to close, mothers would have to travel a 40 mile journey up to Carlisle.
The CCG (NHS North Cumbria Clinical Group) body made the unanimous decision following a vital vote.
There was many recommendations put to the governing body.
They were to retain two consultant-led units in North and Western Cumbria - one in Whitehaven and one up in Carlisle.
Dr David Rogers, Medial Director for CCG said:
The CCG has been committed to providing sustainable consultant-led services and we are pleased to see the hard work of a lot of people over a number of years being recognised. The Trust has faced problems recruiting and it is clear that is improving, and there has been considerable commitment from the staff to make things work. I also want to thank the people who have given up their time and got involved in ‘working together,’ they have made a real difference. It is clear when you read the Independent Review Group’s report, that three years on, we are now in a very different place.”