A former health chief has spoken out over the "dangers'' in transferring west Cumbrian women in labour up to two hours to give birth in Carlisle.

Dr Barrie Walker says he "despairs'' at recent proposals to remove 24-hour consultant-led maternity care at the West Cumberland Hospital saying local mums-to-be want to be treated 'close to home'.

A retired GP and former joint chairman of the professional executive committee for North Cumbria Primary Care Trusts, Dr Walker has raised safety issues in transferring women and the "increasing risks put on the A595''.

In an open letter, Dr Walker said: "I have become increasingly despairing in recent weeks at what appears to be the progress and results of the Success process in North Cumbria.''

While initially "excited and optimistic'' about the Government's Success Regime, Dr Walker, a West Cumbrian GP for 33 years, now calls it "unimaginative, and wanting to take the easy, least problematic options''.

West Cumbrian women, Dr Walker said, "do not want turmoil in what should be a glorious time for them and their families. They want to be 'close to home'.

"Can you imagine the time it would take for a woman in labour from my old patch, Wasdale, Eskdale, Bootle etc, to get to Carlisle – a two-hour journey.

"And that is going to be safe? The demands on the ambulance service for transfers, the dangers inherent in such transfers, and the increasing risks put on the A595 are inevitable consequences.''

The letter was addressed to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health; Sir Neil McKay, Success Regime chairman; as well as health campaigners and local health trusts.

Dr Walker said the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, is "not coping'' with the increasing demands of patients travelling from the west of the county.

"We need two hospitals leaning on each other for support with emergencies dealt with on both sites and the elective work shared across both sites.

"I have experienced in recent times unnecessary travel for my family and myself to the Cumberland Infirmary for emergency procedures and consultations that should have been, and could have been carried out, in Whitehaven.

"We have experienced the problems of travel to Carlisle on these occasions and the parking issues at the Cumberland Infirmary.''

The Government's Success Regime - which is heading a major review of services across North and West Cumbria - has suggested a midwife-led unit at the WCH, with consultants available on site for assessments - but only during the day.

In the letter, Dr Walker also says the expansion of the western lakes economy "demands a fully functioning hospital which can handle most emergencies on a 24-hour basis''.

While recruitment of hospital staff has been "made worse'' by the removal of services from West Cumbria.

"The solution to recruitment is to have a fully functioning and vibrant progressing hospital in the west that you can recruit to,'' he said.

"To tempt GPs back we must start training more of them again at the West Cumberland Hospital.''

And Dr Walker added: "I call upon the current commissioners, providers and the Success Regime to have vision and courage. To think about what West Cumbrians deserve and not of their own organisations and going for the easy least demanding options.''

*MEMBERS of the We Need West Cumberland Hospital continued their campaign to retain full maternity services by tying dummies at the old entrance to the WCH.

However, the hospital has since removed the dummies from the site. A spokesperson for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “While we understand the display of dummies represent the local community’s passion and concern for their healthcare services, it is not appropriate for them to be on display within the hospital grounds and any future displays will also be removed.”