Decisions will be made on the Success Regime's controversial proposals for the future of West Cumbrian healthcare in less than two weeks.

The much-awaited responses following a major consultation will finally be made at a meeting, held in public, of the NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group held at the Oval Centre, Workington, on March 8.

Decisions are expected on the future of the West Cumberland Hospital's maternity services, children's and stroke unit, as well as the closure of cottage hospital beds.

The decisions will then be considered by Cumbria County Council's Health Scrutiny Committee later in the month.

An independent report looked at responses from more than 5,000 people, during the 12-week consultation which ran until December 19, taken from forms, public meetings and other consultation activities.

Public responses reveal 85 per cent of respondents want to retain a 24-hour consultant-led maternity department at the West Cumberland Hospital.

The majority of views also wanted children's and stroke services maintained in Whitehaven, and no bed closures at Maryport.

Stephen Childs, chief executive of NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It is clear from the volume and the quality of the responses we received that people across Cumbria gave the issues very serious thought.

“It demonstrates that people care a great deal about their health and care services and that is a great endorsement of the NHS here and a compliment to the staff on the front line delivering services every day.”