An MP has accused health chiefs of failing to provide vital detail about transport.

Sue Hayman said Success Regime boss Sir Neil Mckay promised this would be properly analysed.

She said during a meeting with residents in Maryport, he listened as they raised serious concerns about the impact of having a relative in a community hospital in another town.

Yet the Regime has now published its plans to close beds in Maryport, Wigton and Alston without including any detail how issues relating to poor transport links would be addressed.

"This is not what we were promised," said the Workington MP.

"I was given the impression that, as part of the options, people were going to be able to comment on transport but it isn't there.

"Even in the supporting documents, as far as I can see, there is no analysis of the transport system, the number of people with access to cars, bus routes etc. It should be a key part of the main consultation document. This really must be addressed."

The formal consultation document, published on Monday, includes four options for community hospitals.

All of them would see beds removed from Maryport, Wigton and Alston, with some other sites also at risk.

But she said none of the options acknowledge the difficulties many residents, particularly the elderly, with family members in another hospital would face if this were to happen.

"Sir Neil met people in Maryport. They had made a video of the bus journey through to Cockermouth to demonstrate those difficulties. That has been completely ignored," added Mrs Hayman.

She added that there are also similar issues relating to how parents would get to Carlisle if the children's ward is downgraded.

"It's very disappointing that they don't seem to have understood that people are very concerned about travel distances, travel times and the lack of public transport. It's also about cost. These are deprived communities," she said.

The Success Regime said more documents are likely to be released in the coming days.