County council leader Stewart Young says he is "disappointed" at a decision to close community hospital beds prior to alternatives being properly explored.

NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) last week agreed that Wigton, Maryport and Alston would lose all their beds.

They did however agree to continue working with local communities to further develop alternative plans already drawn up, prompting hope from campaigners that the beds could yet be saved.

But, speaking at today's meeting of Cumbria County Council's ruling cabinet, Mr Young set out their position.

He said: “We were disappointed at the recent announcement by the CCG Governing Body which has approved proposals, arising from the Success Regime, to close community hospital beds in Alston, Wigton and Maryport in advance of any alternate services being agreed.

“We have been clear all along that any changes to inpatient beds needed to have costed alternative arrangements worked up prior to any decision being made. This decision preempts the outcome of that work.

“We will therefore be seeking urgent discussions with NHS leaders, and we will be calling on them firstly to assure us that no beds will close unless and until properly worked through solutions for the affected communities have been agreed, and secondly that if those solutions require further investment, that will be supported by them.”