It is vital you have a say about the future of healthcare in Cumbria.

The Success Regime has published firm plans to overhaul the local NHS and the impact will be felt right across the area.

Despite high-profile opposition, the recommendations include downgrading maternity services, closing cottage hospital beds, and transferring more seriously ill adults and children from Whitehaven to Carlisle's already under-pressure Cumberland Infirmary.

Today the Times & Star is launching a Save Our Services campaign opposing these proposals, which fail to guarantee patient safety and will leave communities without vital health services.


We are calling for a rethink, to come up with options which tackle problems in the local NHS while addressing local concerns.

To achieve this we need all our readers to get involved. We are therefore urging you to fill out and return the print and online forms, send us your views via Facebook or Tweet using the #soscumbria hashtag.


Share the petition link: https://goo.gl/forms/xyQQxkE15keJEnb63


We also want readers to respond to the formal Success Regime consultation and make sure local voices are heard.

Keep reading the Times & Star - in print and online - to stay up-to-date with the latest on the debate.