A Cumbrian MP says she has been left baffled by a controversial decision not to refer major health plans to the Secretary of State - and is now demanding the matter be investigated and potentially challenged.

Reacting to news that Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee backtracked on its original vote about the future of paediatrics and community hospitals, Workington MP Sue Hayman said: “I honestly can’t understand how this has happened.”

Meanwhile Copeland’s new MP, Trudy Harrison, said it doesn’t make sense to refer plans for maternity but not paediatrics, as the two rely on each other.

The decision means plans to downgrade children’s services at Whitehaven and close community hospital beds in Maryport, Wigton and Alston will now go unchallenged.

Only the proposal to downgrade maternity services at the West Cumberland Hospital will be looked at by health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

This has been met with widespread anger from health campaigners across north and west Cumbria after several councillors changed their mind before the second vote and others left the meeting before the end - later to claim they did not understand the process or did not think they were eligible to vote.

Labour MP Mrs Hayman had previously written to the scrutiny committee urging members to use their powers to call in all three of the matters.

After hearing of the original vote, when councillors first stated their intention to refer all three matters, she said she was incredibly pleased - only to later find out about the U turn and feel “let down” by those on the committee.

“I was really concerned for the proposals in those three areas and I thought the committee were being really sensible, listening to local people’s concerns.

“I then found out later that only maternity was being referred. I just can’t see how that happened.

"I now want to see if due process was followed and if things were not done properly, whether or not there’s a challenge we can make,” she said.

“These are such hugely important decisions for our communities and I think there are some really serious questions that need to be asked.

"I feel really let down on community hospitals. I went into great detail in my letter about why beds should not be closed. I think it’s got to be challenged. It’s too important not to.”

Copeland’s Conservative MP Mrs Harrison said she was also confused.

“I’m uncertain about the reasons for the members leaving and I also understand the intrinsic link between maternity and paediatrics," she said.

"Paediatrics are essential to providing consultant-led deliveries 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I will be trying to find out more about that, but a call in is only one way. I will be using all measures of Parliamentary process available to me to reiterate the strength of feeling. My priority remains that service."