Air ambulance cover being introduced as part of plans to transform healthcare will not be used to transfer patients between Whitehaven and Carlisle.

Hospital bosses - who have previously said a helicopter could be used to improve emergency care locally - are working with the Great North Air Ambulance on a new deal.

But they have now admitted it would not be a solution to transport issues between the West Cumberland Hospital and Cumberland Infirmary.

Instead the deal will see around 20 critical patients a year flown to specialist centres.

If controversial proposals by the Government-backed Success Regime are brought in, the West Cumberland Hospital would lose its consultant-led maternity unit. This would mean woman in labour having to travel 40 miles along the A595 to Carlisle.

There are also plans to transfer more urgent care for seriously ill adults and children to the Cumberland Infirmary.

Success Regime bosses had previously hinted that a helicopter could be based in west Cumbria to provide an urgent response to patients living in rural areas.

They said they had taken inspiration from other areas, including the Scottish Highlands, rural Wales, and even New Zealand and Australia.

However although the air ambulance is still part of the plan, it would not be used to transfer patients between Whitehaven and Carlisle.

The new deal will see two consultants employed, splitting their time working with the air ambulance and in the West Cumberland Hospital.

It will mean the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust providing consultants in exchange for the helicopter services.

Both organisations have made it clear that the agreement will not interfere with the air ambulance's charity work.

Dr Debbie Freake, the trust's executive director of strategy, said: "We are about to advertise for two consultant posts which would include regular weekly sessions with GNAAS as well as working in emergency medicine at West Cumberland Hospital which would be beneficial to the trust, the charity and the local community in west Cumbria."

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance added: "The day-to-day services provided by our aircraft and crew will continue to be preserved for those who need them most, wherever they are in Cumbria. Any arrangement will only be of benefit to the charity as it would involve us adding the skills and experiences of another clinician to our team."