Health campaigners say they are considering taking legal action over a decision to close beds at Alston's community hospital.

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust promised not to shut beds at the Ruth Lancaster James Hospital - as well as those in Wigton and Maryport - until alternative care is in place.

Now the Alston Moor Health Campaign group has issued a letter to Stephen Childs, chief executive of the North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), putting him on notice that they are considering taking legal action over the closure.

The letter, which has been sent by the law firm Leigh Day on behalf of the campaign group, raises and explains concerns about the lawfulness of the decision and seeks to persuade the CCG to remake it.

Jane Mayes, in whose name the initial letter was sent on behalf of the group, said: "We have a number of concerns about how the decision was taken, not least the conduct of the ‘mediation’ section of the health scrutiny committee meeting which we submit amounted to a significant legal error in the decision-making process and requires reconsideration of the decision.

"In addition, we have raised objections to the lack of an option in the original consultation document to keep the community hospitals at Alston, Wigton and Maryport open.

"We also query why the CCG neither adequately demonstrated that alternative provision can be made nor provided evidence for the efficacy of the proposed healthcare model, as well as questioning the conduct of the CCG during the health scrutiny committee meeting."

The letter was sent on April 7 and requests a response within seven days.

The group says that depending on the outcome, consideration will be given to the taking of further legal steps.

Stephen Childs, chief executive of NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by the solicitors Leigh Day and will respond when we have had time to adequately consider them.

"We have been clear about the challenges the health system in west, north and east Cumbria and have followed clear processes to shape services for the future.

"We have also been very clear about our commitments to working with the community to develop new services, with no transition until we have been reassured about safe, clinically appropriate alternatives.”