Concerns have been raised about the impartiality of the woman who chaired public meetings about health services in Cumbria.

National journalist Christina Patterson was brought in by the Success Regime to act as an independent chairwoman at its public meetings, which have been taking place across north and west Cumbria.

But it has now emerged that she has direct links to Freshwater UK - a PR company working alongside the Regime.

Its website lists Ms Patterson among a list of its trainers, describing her as a "writer, columnist, broadcaster and communications consultant".

Community hospital campaigners are now questioning whether that link compromises her role as independent chairwoman.

They say she should at least have declared that interest during the meetings - which have taken place at venues across the area, including Keswick, Whitehaven, Carlisle, Maryport, Penrith, Alston and Longtown, as part of a review of north Cumbria's troubled health services.

Wigton campaigner Eveline Dugdale, who chairs the Joint League of Friends, said: "It just doesn't feel right. This is about whether she can be impartial. It's not personal, it's the principle.

"We also want to know how much she is being paid."

Freshwater UK's deputy chief executive, John Underwood, has been leading communications for the Success Regime - the Government-appointed body charged with overhauling north Cumbria's NHS. Options put forward include controversial ideas to close some or all of the area's cottage hospital beds and centralise consultant-led maternity services in Carlisle.

Formal proposals are now being drawn up to go out to public consultation later in the summer, with more meetings planned.

John Holland, of the Brampton League of Friends, is now calling on the Success Regime to find another person to chair those.

"Clearly we haven't got an independent view. I don't think it would be impossible to find a chairman without any links. It makes me think that any engagement is on their terms," he said.

However a spokesman for the Success Regime said Ms Patterson was chosen because she was independent to the process.

“Christina Patterson is an independent journalist and broadcaster with a specialist interest in the health field. She received praise from Cumbrian audiences for the independent manner in which she chaired the recent public meetings," he said.

“On its website Freshwater references several independent trainers, coaches, facilitators and event chairs with whom it has worked. This is why Christina Patterson is mentioned. She has never undertaken any media training on Freshwater’s behalf.

“The use of an independent chair at public meetings is widely recognised as being a useful way of ensuring discussion is focused and relevant to the options under discussion. The need for keeping discussion focused was an important point made by the Cumbria County Council Health Scrutiny Committee at one of its recent meetings.”