Pressure is again mounting on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to visit Cumbria as opposition to NHS cuts grows.

Last week junior health minister Philip Dunne made a trip to the West Cumberland Hospital following repeated calls to the Government.

But Copeland MP Jamie Reed is continuing to press the Secretary of State and Prime Minister Theresa May to make the trip north.

With Mr Dunne having seen the area for himself, and made the trip along the A595, campaigners hope he will now take a clear message back to Westminster that moving key services is not safe.

Mr Reed said it is now vital senior ministers intervene to stop consultant-led maternity - along with other emergency and children's services - being stripped from the Whitehaven hospital.

If the Success Regime's planned reforms go ahead, many patients - including mothers in difficulties during labour - would face risky transfers to Carlisle's already under-pressure Cumberland Infirmary.

Mr Reed - who has repeatedly called on senior ministers to visit west Cumbria - said the Secretary of State has previously stepped in to stop hospital services being moved in other parts of the country.

Now he wants Mr Hunt to do the same here. “A health minister has now seen the West Cumberland Hospital for himself, having travelled along the unsuitable A595, and having heard from patients, staff and campaigners, and now is the time for the Government to provide our community with the assurances that we need and deserve regarding the future of our 24-hour consultant led services," he said.

“For too long, west Cumbria has been let down by Government. At her first Prime Minister’s questions, I asked Theresa May to visit the West Cumberland Hospital. I received no reply.

"Before he left office, I wrote to David Cameron asking him to make good on the promises he made to gun shot victims as they laid in their beds, not to cut services at the West Cumberland Hospital. I chased Number 10 for a reply – none appeared.

"Jeremy Hunt was again invited to meet with local people at the recent public meeting I held to discuss the Success Regime proposals. Again, no reply. I have also called in Parliament for the same assurances given to North Devon regarding maternity services to be given to west Cumbria. That has not yet been made. This simply cannot continue."