How the assessors changed their minds ...

The independent assessors who looked at Maternity services in Cumbria and North Lancashire reported that they had originally intended to recommend one huge maternity unit for the whole vast area.

Fortunately when they saw what the roads and transport links are actually like they changed their minds. It was reported that:

"While prior to their visit the assessors felt this was likely to be a preferred option, because of the benefits that such a larger unit with 5,000 deliverie...s would have for women and their babies, given the geography involved they did not think that this option could realistically be developed further."

Instead their preferred solution was Option One:

Option 1 - Four consultant-led maternity units at Carlisle, Whitehaven, Barrow and Lancaster. The immediate development of midwifery-led units at Carlisle and Lancaster, on the same site, or next to them.

But we cannot take for granted that this solution will be adopted, it is one of three options under consideration and there are conditions being laid down.

That's why we must campaign to keep consultant-led maternity at all four sites and ‪#‎SupportOption1‬