Controversy surrounds the vote not to refer key decisions on the future of West Cumbria’s health services to the Secretary of State, after four councillors left a meeting before the final show of hands.

Members of Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday to determine whether to call in the health reforms agreed last week by NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group.

This would have meant they were referred to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who could potentially order an independent review.

Initially members voted in favour of referring the decisions to downgrade paediatrics at the West Cumberland Hospital, remove beds from three of the area’s community hospitals and potentially centralise consultant-led maternity services in Carlisle.

But, following further discussions with health bosses at the day-long meeting, the final formal vote, taken by seven of the original 11 councillors, saw some change their stance.

As a result only the maternity decision will now be referred to Mr Hunt.

The remaining four councillors left the meeting before the vote was taken.

Among them was Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes, representing Allerdale council on the county council committee.

She said she was told by committee chairman Neil Hughes that she could go home at 4.40pm when he called a private meeting with three other councillors and CCG bosses.

The Maryport town, borough and county councillor, who is Allerdale council’s executive member responsible for health, said she was “furious and devastated” about the mix-up and U-turn.

She said: “I’d had my say and I honestly believed we had won the vote.

“I thought all the district representatives were leaving the meeting and I was really satisfied that we had won the day and the matter was going to the Secretary of State.

“I got an email on Wednesday night to say that a new vote had been taken. I have no idea why or what happened in the meeting of senior councillors. The whole thing is a total farce. I am beyond angry.”

Some district councillors did remain at the meeting and the second vote went 4-3 in favour of endorsing the CCG’s community hospitals plan, meaning Coun McCarron-Holmes could have tied the vote.

The final vote on paediatrics was 5-2 against referral.

The other committee members who left the meeting were Copeland’s Raymond Gill, who thought the meeting was over, South Lakes’ Jim Bland, who voted in referring all matters to Mr Hunt but did not think he was eligible to take part in the second vote, and Ulverston’s Mark Wilson, who said he had to leave because of family reasons, work going on at his house, the weather and other meetings he needed to attend.

Aspatria county council Jim Lister was the only member of the committee to vote against calling in the maternity decision.

In the final vote on community hospital beds he also voted against.

The committee did not contest planned changes to stroke care, A&E, emergency surgery, trauma and orthopaedics.

The county council said it was reviewing the process and procedure followed at the meeting following concerns to see if further action was needed but could not confirm whether such action could include holding the meeting and votes again.

A spokesman said the decision-making process was set out in the committee papers and confirmed at the start of the meeting.