Plans for the future of the maternity services at the West Cumberland Hospital will be revealed on Monday.

The Success Regime will be releasing its formal consultation document into local healthcare next week.

Chairman Sir Neil McKay told a public meeting at Cockermouth Community Hospital yesterday: “The future of maternity services at the West Cumberland Hospital has been discussed endlessly.

"We have real concerns about whether it's possible to maintain a consultant-led maternity service there.

“If our concerns are correct then we have to come up with other options. I would fail if I offered a service that was not sustainable.

“This is a complex set of issues, our thoughts are in the consultation document. The present position is a real worry and I understand how passionate people feel.”

Health bosses are considering downgrading the current full time consultant-led unit at the Whitehaven hospital.

If that happens all that would remain would be a midwife-led unit, possibly with consultants on hand 8am until 8pm.

As a result, women likely to need a consultant would have to travel to Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary to give birth.

There is also widespread concern that, should a simple birth go wrong in Whitehaven, women in labour would face a 40-mile trip in an ambulance to get the help they need.

Campaigners say this would put the lives of women and babies at risk.

Bosses claim they cannot recruit consultants, and therefore cannot find a way to safety staff the existing 24-hour unit.

They argue it would be safer for complex births to take place in Carlisle.

Sir Neil will come face to face with campaigners at a public meeting in Whitehaven tonight.

Organised by Copeland MP Jamie Reed, it will be held at 7pm at the United Reformed Church, James Street.

The Success Regime's formal plans will be followed by an official consultation.