A West Cumbrian MP says she has still not met with the man leading changes to local health services - SEVEN months after he was appointed.

It comes as about 450 people turned out to a high profile public meeting in Whitehaven - dubbed STOP! by organisers - set up by West Cumberland Hospital campaigners to defend services.

Workington's Sue Hayman has now called for urgent talks with to the so-called Success Regime, which was set up by the Government to transform struggling NHS services across north and west Cumbria.

It recently published controversial options - which include moving more services from the West Cumberland Hospital to Carlisle - as part of what it describes as an 'emerging vision' for the area.

Mrs Hayman said she is concerned that despite her pleas, local people are still not being listened to by Success Regime bosses.

The Labour MP said that after repeated calls, she has still not had a meeting with its chairman Sir Neil McKay since he was appointed back in September, accusing him of cancelling meetings.

And she is concerned that unrest in the area demonstrates that it is not engaging properly with local people.

However Success Regime bosses have denied her claims, saying Sir Neil is keen to meet with the MP. A spokesman said that in the past few weeks they have twice contacted her office with potential dates.

The STOP! meeting, held on Sunday at Whitehaven Civic Hall, was organised by We Need West Cumberland Hospital campaign group who stated it was "fed up'' with endless consultations - only for the same "unacceptable" options to be put forward.

Mrs Hayman, who spoke at the event, is demanding urgent talks. 

She told the News & Star: "I'm really disappointed that I still haven't had a face-to-face meeting. I've requested it on a number of occasions.

"I've been meeting regularly with the health minister, I've met with the secretary of state and the chief executive of the hospital trust - the only person I haven't met is Sir Neil McKay. It's very frustrating."

She said that following feedback from constituents, she is concerned that the ongoing consultation is not "meaningful".

"If people do not feel they are able to get their views across without going to a big meeting led by local residents then to me there's clearly something not working," she added.

The campaign group has devised its own survey based on the Regime's vision for local health services, saying it wants to be able to tell bosses exactly how the west Cumbrian community feels.

Siobhan Gearing, founder of the group, said: "About 300 surveys were handed in on the day and everyone else took them away to fill in at home. Many also wrote personal messages, which are also being collected to hand to the Success Regime. 

"People were asking why is transferring patients 40 miles down a bad road even an option? Other highlighted their own stories - how they or their baby wouldn't have survived if they had been transferred to Carlisle during labour. 

"A lot of people weren't ticking any of the boxes, they were just saying they didn't agree with any of the options and stating their reasons.''

And she added: "We've had survey after survey but it's always the same. They say we don't want to do this - for example move consultant-led maternity - but it's still an option. Why have it as an option? Why not just rule it out?" 

Lynne Davies added: "We were delighted that so many people took time out of their precious weekend to complete (the surveys) with people travelling from as far as Cockermouth and Millom."

Also speaking at the event was Mahesh Dhebar, a retired orthopedic surgeon and member of the group. 

The views from the surveys will now be collated and presented to chiefs at the Success Regime.

Completed surveys can be handed back in at Whitehaven Civic Hall.