Workington MP Sue Hayman said it was "absolutely vital" that full A&E services are kept at Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital. 

A week after the new £90 million hospital opened its doors, claims have emerged that A&E staff have been informed that if bosses cannot get the medical staff needed by next year, the A&E department at Whitehaven could be downgraded – becoming a minor injuries unit.

Mrs Hayman said: "It's absolutely vital that we retain full A&E services at the new West Cumberland Hospital.

"During their recent visit to the new hospital, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, and Sir Neil Mackay, who is heading up the Cumbria-wide NHS Success Regime, made it clear that they expect A&E services to remain at West Cumberland.

"It is an extremely important service for our local community and I will do everything I can to stop the provision of this service being undermined."

Christine Wharrier, part of the We Need West Cumberland Hospital campaign group, said if the downgrade happened all emergencies would go directly to Carlisle, bypassing the West Cumberland Hospital altogether.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed has also expressed his concerns.

Jeremy Rushmer, medical director of the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said no closure was imminent, but admitted they had to plan for all worst case scenarios.

He said: "The trust board very much supports a safe and viable service for the long-term future at West Cumberland Hospital.

"Our A&E consultants at West Cumberland Hospital formally expressed their concerns to the trust board in May about the long-term sustainability of acute medicine.

"We share these concerns as does the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, who has rated the safety of acute medicine at West Cumberland Hospital as 'inadequate' since July 2014.

"We cannot ignore this situation and we all share a common goal which is to ensure a safe and sustainable service for patients in West Cumbria."

Dr Rushmer added that they were doing all they could to recruit, including working in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire.

The Success Regime has been set up by the Government to draw up a plan to rescue North Cumbria’s struggling healthcare system.