Hospital campaigners have accused bosses of pushing ahead with controversial maternity plans, even before a final decision has been made.

A group fighting against plans to centralise some or all births in Carlisle, have seen a leaked internal job advert for a project manager to lead transformations in maternity.

The role includes establishing a dedicated ambulance to move patients from the West Cumberland Hospital to the Cumberland Infirmary.

Health bosses, who have promised a 12-month reprieve for maternity while recruitment issues are addressed, insist the ambulance would only be for paediatrics, as part of an agreed plan to downgrade of Whitehaven’s children’s ward, not maternity.

But members of the We Need West Cumberland Hospital believe is the first step towards removing consultants from Whitehaven, and say it “makes a mockery” of the decision-making process.

The maternity plan approved by the local NHS was so contentious, councillors referred it to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. This week he confirmed he had ordered an independent review.

The new job, advertised internally, is for a Transforming Maternity Care project manager, linked to the national Better Births strategy.

But it also states they would be working on the development of a Dedicated Ambulance Vehicle – a solution put forward by bosses during the recent Success Regime consultation to transfer maternity and paediatric patients to Carlisle.

Many campaigners do not believe a dedicated ambulance will do enough to ensure the safety of seriously ill women and children who have to travel 40 miles to Carlisle to reach a consultant.

The campaign group has now written to NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) boss Stephen Childs.

The letter, signed by Annette Robson on behalf of the group, states: “This advert makes a mockery of the Success Regime ‘consultation’, as it does the co-production meetings that are taking place at the moment and the referral to the Secretary of State for an independent review of our maternity services.

“The provision of a dedicated ambulance for children’s/maternity services is an unacceptable option for the people of west Cumbria. We need 24/7 Consultant led maternity and paediatrics at West Cumberland Hospital and nothing less is acceptable.

“Up til now we have seen little to persuade us that the CCG is looking after our best interests, and urge you to intervene to ensure that we get the services we need and deserve.”

However the CCG insists that, as part of the plan for paediatrics, it was agreed to develop the dedicated ambulance plan.

A spokeswoman said the project manager will work alongside the officer leading work on maternity and paediatrics.

“The role will cover development work arising from national improvement programmes and the decisions following the Healthcare For The Future consultation,” she explained.

“This includes changes to children’s services involving the creation of a Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Unit with overnight beds for children with low level requirements, and a Dedicated Ambulance Vehicle (DAV).

“We have not yet implemented option one for maternity, and we are respectful of the referral process to the Secretary of State

“We are though supporting the development of midwife-led care and alongside midwife-led units (AMLU) at both the West Cumberland Hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary.

“This project manager role will also cover the development of the nationally-led Better Births programme which will see the creation of maternity hubs. The role will also support the work developing through co-production around maternity and paediatric services.”

But local campaigners remain concerned, branding it a “disgrace”.

Mrs Robson added: “Whilst pretending to look for solutions under the guise of co-production, the CCG’s response clearly demonstrates that they are already implementing plans which have not yet been agreed on. It’s a disgrace.”

NHS Cumbria is urging anyone interested in the future of maternity and paediatric services to attend the next co-production meeting on October 12 at the Lakes College, Lillyhall, from 6pm.