Campaigners are furious following the move of the West Cumberland Hospital's switchboard to Carlisle.

The controversial change came to light when a GP tried to admit a patient late last week.

Dr Magda Rocha, formerly of Catherine Street Surgery in Whitehaven and now based in Workington, said it took three phone calls to the switchboard to get a result.

"Apparently this started with no communication to us GPs," she said.

Since Dr Rocha posted her experience on the We Need West Cumberland Hospital campaign page on Facebook, more than 125 comments have been received from angry members of the public.

Siobhan Gearing, founder of the group, said: "The people of West Cumbria are confused as now the calls are answered with North Cumbria University Hospital instead of West Cumberland Hospital."

A spokeswoman for the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust said the telephone system at Whitehaven required upgrading and the switchboard telephone number – 01946 693181 – has not changed.

“As with the majority of NHS organisations, there is now one central switchboard located at the Cumberland Infirmary and staff who were on the switchboard at Whitehaven are now providing a new 24/7 estates helpdesk as well as staffing the reception desk in the new build," she added.

"There have been no job losses and patients and staff should see an improved service as there are now more staff to answer calls and the system will be much more reliable.”