TERRIFIED mothers warn planned Caesareans could increase if a proposal to remove 24-hour maternity consultant cover at the West Cumberland Hospital goes ahead.

An option has been revealed for all complex births to go to Carlisle during the night -- the cut off time has not been announced.

However, this proposal has shocked mothers in Copeland who say the uncertainly of the journey to the Cumberland Infirmary could scare mums- to-be.

The Government's Success Regime - which is heading a major review of services across North and West Cumbria - has suggested a midwife-led unit at the WCH, with consultants available on site for assessments - but only during the day.

St Bees mum, Laura Parkinson, who had an emergency Caesarean at the WCH, said: "I do think that more women will choose to go for a planned C-section if they think they will have to be rushed to Carlisle. It is too frightening to think what could happen on this journey.

"If my delivery had been after the consultants had left for the day, I don’t know what would have happened with my first son, Henry.

"My friend had a dream pregnancy but ended up having an emergency C-section as her little boy’s heart rate kept dropping dramatically. I don’t really understand what would happen in this instance if it had been after the consultant's cut off point.''

Egremont mother Joanne Long had her baby Jake at 26 weeks at the WCH, despite being predicted to have a "normal'' birth. She was told she had to have an emergency Caesarean "within the hour''.

She said: "If I had to go to Carlisle in the middle of the night we both wouldn't have made it.

"I believe Jake and I would be dead if we had had to travel 40 miles as I would have bled to death on the way.

"They are taking the option away from me from having another baby because I've been told I have a high chance of placental abruption happening again.

"I was also told if I did have another and they took consultant-led maternity away my safety option would be to move and live in Carlisle.

"It's a postcode lottery on people's lives.''

Stephen Singleton, medical director of the Success Regime, said: “National regional and local experts are telling us that the current situation is not sustainable and therefore something has to change.

“One option that has been under consideration for some time is the provision of a 24/7 stand-alone midwife-led maternity unit at West Cumberland Hospital. We are now also exploring whether this option might be developed to include some daytime-only consultant services, such as elective caesarean sections.

“In all options, a midwife-led maternity unit would be a 24/7 unit and mothers-to-be would continue to give birth at West Cumberland Hospital throughout the 24-hour period with the support of midwives.

“As part of this option, we are also looking at introducing a dedicated ambulance service for the midwife-led unit to transport mothers to a 24/7 consultant service in Carlisle if required.

“This option and various other options are still under consideration and any decision on changes to maternity services in West, North and East Cumbria will be subject to public consultation.”