Hospital campaigners have branded an upcoming consultation into maternity services “a farce”.

They claim plans to reduce maternity services have already been decided, weeks before a fresh round of public consultation by the Government-backed Success Regime is due to begin.

Despite assurances from health bosses that all options remain open, campaigners believe 24-hour consultant-led maternity services at West Cumberland Hospital is off the table.

And they say health chiefs “should hang their heads in shame and leave” if they cannot save “the essential service”.

Carole Woodman, of West Cumbria Voice For Healthcare, said the consultation would be challenged.

She claims it has been “poor” and that they had asked the “wrong questions and not provided the right evidence’’.

The Whitehaven News has been told that chronic recruitment shortages could result in a midwife-led unit with consultants available from just 8am to 8pm.

Retired Egremont GP Dr Jan Heijne den Bak also spoke out this week after a workshop in Whitehaven on Monday ahead of the public consultation. He said it was “unquestionably clear’’ that the WCH would lose its consultant-led unit.

Mrs Woodman said public bodies needed to have an open mind during consultation and not “already have made a decision – I’m afraid they have already made any consultation meaningless. They have not provided the risk assessments, positive outcomes that are required or any evidence that any other scenario would be sustainable. Despite asking for evidence it has not been produced.’’

While stating she had the “greatest respect’’ for health chiefs, they have, she said, “a very real opportunity to stop the farce of this consultation and work to deliver the healthcare system needed” and if they cannot provide the service “they should hang their heads in shame and leave”.

She said, however, the Success Regime had provided some “positive indications of a way forward’’ with more joined-up services and an adaptable workforce.

Dr den Bak said during Monday’s meeting: “It became unquestionably clear that the WCH will lose its consultant-led obstetric unit in spite of the repeated slogan ‘no decision has been made yet’. What is really at the bottom of this is the lack of willingness, vision and courage to save this essential service for the people of West Cumbria.

“If the powers-that-be really wanted to preserve consultant-led maternity services as they kept saying in all previous meetings, they would find a way.”

He added: “In the next three months the people of West Cumbria will have their last chance to fight for a full array of services at their hospital.”

Health campaigner Gerard Richardson has also spoken out this week. His daughter Brenna Dickinson recently gave birth prematurely and the family fully supports West Cumberland Hospital.

Gerard said he thought a reduction of maternity services would happen at the WCH due to a recruitment crisis.

“I think they need to compare their recruitment efforts to those of the nuclear and submarine building industries in the West because they both get the very best in the country in similar wage brackets to settle here.”

Stephen Eames, chief executive at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “In our ongoing work with health partners and as part of the Success Regime, we have been looking at all scenarios relating to securing a safe and sustainable future for maternity services.

“It is important to emphasise that any decision relating to changes in maternity services in West, North and East Cumbria will be subject to the upcoming public consultation.”

The trust also confirmed that ‘travel impact analysis assessments’ have been completed and will be available when the consultation begins.

Mother-of-two Brenna praised staff at the West Cumberland Hospital for their support following the birth of her premature son.

Brenna, 20, gave birth to her second child, James, who weighed just 3lb 12oz on August 30.

Her waters had initially broken at 26 weeks, and she was treated at Newcastle RVI. She was told to rest and received regularly monitoring and scans.

Despite a medical eye being kept on her condition, when Brenna went into labour she went from “undilated to 10cms dilated in no time’’.

James was born at 1.50am and was taken away to the WCH’s SCBU where he continues to stay.

Brenna said without WCH’s Special Care Baby Unit, James wouldn’t have survived. “As soon as he was born they had to put him on machines,’’ she said. “If we had had to travel he won’t have lasted until Workington.

“The staff have all been great. We need to retain all maternity services.’’