Midwives at the West Cumberland Hospital were not consulted on the controversial proposals for the maternity department which they claim are "flawed and contradictory''.

Only now, when the completed document is available for public consultation, have the majority of the maternity department's front-line staff been able to comment.

Over 50 midwives and maternity care assistants have since signed a statement which states they have "severe concerns'' over the Success Regime proposals to remove 24-hour-led maternity consultant care.


Midwives said they were also "patronised'' by the introduction of a consultant midwife, Kathryn Gutteridge, from Birmingham, who is to said to be "the voice'' of local midwives. She was brought in by the Trust's director of nursing and midwifery, Maurya Cushlow to "work collectively with them''.

At a meeting with the midwives, Ms Gutteridge said she hadn't read the Success Regime report, hadn't visited either hospital or travelled along the A595.

A midwife, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We were not consulted with at all during the review period.

"We have met with Stephen Eames (chief executive of the North Cumbria University Hospital NHS Trust) and he has suggested that we try to come up with better solutions/options to the ones on offer in the public consultation document.

"We feel that the public consultation is very one sided at present. The public are being misled by a flawed and contradictory public consultation document. If this is to be a thorough public consultation then the public need to hear all sides of the argument.''

In the statement, midwives state their code of practice say they are to "act as advocates’ for the women in their care, ensuring care is provided "without undue delay''.

The midwives say: "We are West Cumbrians ourselves, we are service users and we are frontline members of staff; as such we have a good knowledge of the health and well-being of local women and their social circumstances.

"In order that we can work within our professional code of practice, our views should be heard and responded to.''

The midwives say they are not opposed to change and would welcome a midwifery-led unit – but alongside a consultant-led unit. "We have severe concerns regarding the safety and sustainability of a freestanding MLU in Whitehaven,'' they say.

And the midwives added: "By sending West Cumbrian women to the Cumberland Infirmary (CIC), we are isolating them from their families at one of the most vulnerable and emotional times of their lives.''

Also in the statement – sent to health bosses, MPs, the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and other groups – the midwives put over 40 questions to the Success Regime.

Anna Stabler, deputy director of nursing & midwifery at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We absolutely want our midwives to be actively engaged and to be able to constructively and effectively contribute to the ongoing public consultation.

“Both Maurya Cushlow and Stephen Eames, have been meeting with the midwifery staff at West Cumberland Hospital and will continue to do so.''

She added that Ms Gutteridge had agreed to hold some sessions for the midwives to "work collectively with them, progressing a range of professional issues.

"Kathryn’s initial sessions were held during the first week of consultation and were not about discussing the consultation document in detail but more about hearing the midwives’ voices.”