This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Cumbria NHS services face shake-up
Health officials at Cumbria NHS have approved a service shake-up aimed at tackling ‘inadequate’ care in the region.
The changes involve downgrading most acute surgery, children's services and stroke support at Whitehaven in West Cumbria and centralising them in Carlisle.
The shake-up also involved shelving an end to consultant-led maternity service in Whitehaven for 12 months pending a review of staff recruitment.
Opponents say they will fight to retain services in West Cumbria.
The news comes after the Care Quality Commission found there were serious staffing issues and some elements of medical care at Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital were ‘inadequate’.
A spokesperson for NHS England and NHS Improvement Cumbria and the North East, said: “The West, North and East Cumbria Success Regime, which was established in autumn 2015, had the very important and difficult task of looking at how to tackle long-standing problems within the health system in the area, with a focus on recruitment, finance and quality of care.
“We appreciate that changing the way people access health care may cause concern. Views from a vast number and range of organisations and individuals have been taken into account as part of the consultation and Cumbria CCG’s decision making process. With regard to maternity services, additional information from an independent review by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, due to take place during April and May this year, will provide further important detail to assist with the implementation of proposals.
“The priority has to be to secure the future of health care in Cumbria, and to ensure patients receive the best possible care, which is sustainable, safe and affordable.”
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