Last updated 20:23, Thursday, 09 October 2008

PUBLIC consultation will be carried out on the location of a new West Cumberland hospital and health campus next spring, it has been revealed.

Sites to be considered have not been named but it is understood that land near the current West Cumberland Hospital at Hensingham, at Westlakes Science Park near Whitehaven and at Lillyhall could be among the options.

The consultation on the options, which will include a site recommended by health bosses, will run for 12 weeks. It will be carried out by NHS Cumbria, the county’s primary care trust.

North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust chief executive Carole Heatly will head a project board to produce the business case and preferred site selection process.

Ms Heatly said: “I am delighted we are now in a position to move this exciting development forward for the people of West Cumbria.

“The project board will oversee the planning process for the new hospital and health campus and we look forward to working with our colleagues in NHS Cumbria and our stakeholders throughout the county.”

Sue Page, chief executive of NHS Cumbria, said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to create a new hospital and health campus for West Cumbria which will provide world-class health care.”