Healthcare meeting

Last updated 10:20, Friday, 07 March 2008

HEALTH chiefs will meet next week to discuss the responses from the recent public consultation on the future of health issues.

Hundreds of people made sure they had their say on proposals for the future of healthcare in the Closer to Home document.

Just before January’s public meeting, in Whitehaven, some of the plans were changed following talks between consultants at Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital, GPs, health bosses, councillors and the Save Our Services group.

An improved option was put together which included 220 beds in a new West Cumbrian hospital - being planned to replace the crumbling West Cumberland - with a contingency for a 30-bed expansion if necessary.

This group is headed up by Whitehaven GP Dr David Rogers and also includes other health professionals and lay people such as the Reverend John Bannister, who is leader of the Save Our Services group.

The special board meeting is at the Lakeland Learning Centre in Cockermouth.