More than 2,500 people have pledged their support to campaigns to save north Cumbria’s cottage hospitals.

Campaigners in Wigton, Brampton, Maryport and Alston have set up Facebook pages to raise awareness of the threat to beds.

The Success Regime – a Government-appointed body set up to tackle spiralling problems within the local NHS – has published initial options for the future of health services in north Cumbria.

Although not formal proposals at this stage, they include closing some or all of the area’s community hospital beds.

One option is to centralise beds on fewer sites, meaning the older hospitals – like Wigton, Brampton, Alston, Maryport and Keswick – are most at threat. They would instead become community hubs, offering clinics and services, but not medical beds.

The hospitals’ League of Friends groups have now met with bosses to express their concerns and appeal for a rethink.

But in the past week, with public meetings due to start on Monday, they are beginning to rally local supporters into action.

The Save Brampton, Save Wigton and Save Alston hospitals Facebook pages have have together attracted more than 2,000 likes, while hundreds of people have also signed online petitions. So far the Maryport page has 500 likes.

Cash-strapped health bosses argue that problems staffing nine small hospital units across north Cumbria is proving tough due to recruitment problems. As a result about 15 of the total 127 community beds have been closed across the patch since Christmas.

They say that centralising beds at bigger sites - like Cockermouth, Penrith, Workington and potentially a new unit at Carlisle’s Carleton Clinic - would make them easier to staff. More care would also be provided in people’s own homes.

However the Joint League of Friends does not believe that losing beds from any of the hospitals is a viable option, due to the the wider impact it would have on the communities they serve.

Eveline Dugdale, of the Wigton League of Friends, said their hospital serves a huge area, from Ireby to Silloth and across to Bowness-on-Solway. She fears that sending elderly patients to Carlisle or Cockermouth would leave many cut off from their partners and friends.

She also believes it would result in more people having to go into or stay in the Cumberland Infirmary for longer.

“Wigton hospital has historically received the more complex cases. The intensive rehabilitation that they get allows them to go home sooner. Without it there will be bed blocking,” she said.

John Holland, of the Brampton campaign, said in just one week their Facebook campaign has taken off. It now has more than 650 ‘likes’ and on top of that has had over 10,000 page reads.

He said: “Cumbrians tend to put up with a lot before they start complaining but momentum is building.”

The League of Friends groups are also urging the public to give feedback direct to the Success Regime.

Public meetings will be held on Thursday, May 5, 12.30pm from 2.30pm at the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick and 6.30pm at 8.30pm at Maryport Rugby Club.