A group representing consultants and doctors in north Cumbria has stepped back from its earlier criticism of planned maternity cuts.

It comes after the News & Star published extracts of leaked Medical Staff Committee (MSC) discussions, in which it recommended the "wholesale rejection" of the preferred option to remove consultants from Whitehaven.

Although some members still have concerns about the plans, the body - which represents all consultants and permanent doctors at the Carlisle and Whitehaven hospitals - says it has not yet issued a formal objection and is instead attempting to work alongside the trust board to see if an agreement can be reached.

The News & Star has seen a record of MSC discussions, stating the consensus view was that the preferred option - to downgrade maternity services at the West Cumberland Hospital and send all mothers needing consultant-intervention to Carlisle to give birth - was "the most unsafe, now and in the future".

It instead recommended an alternative option, which would see staff working on a new rota system across the two hospitals.

However it is understood that this response was never submitted as part of the Success Regime's official Healthcare for the Future consultation - over a series of controversial options to overhaul local healthcare - as not all MSC members were at the meeting.

The body instead decided to delay its formal response and is holding further discussions about the possible alternatives.

Dr Suresh Rao, chairman of the MSC for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said the document seen by the News & Star "does not represent the full views of the senior and permanent medical staff" at the trust.

Speaking on behalf of members, he added: "Their response to the consultation proposals is not formally complete.

"They prefer to continue discussions internally and with the trust board, and these will continue through the post consultation period and beyond."

The Government-appointed Success Regime launched its public consultation over radical health reforms in September last year.

Preferred options include downgrading maternity and paediatrics in Whitehaven and closing acute and community hospital beds across the area.

There was a huge backlash, with 10,000 people backing the News & Star's Save Our Services campaign opposing the cuts.

Many current and retired health staff have also spoken out about their concerns if the plans go ahead.

The consultation closed before Christmas and a final decision is expected to be made by NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in the spring.