RESIDENTS, midwives and a local MP have hit out at 'out of hours' staffing changes introduced at Kendal's maternity unit.

Dozens of local people, including MP Tim Farron, have this week reacted with 'concern' to news that the unit is now operating on an 'on-call' only basis after 8pm and at weekends.

"In recent days I have been contacted by lots of parents, mums-to-be and others who are deeply concerned about these changes," said Mr Farron, whose own children were born on the Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) ward.

"I worry about this new service, especially at night."

The changes were announced on November 26 and came into effect on December 1.

Women who go into labour out of hours will now call out a midwife for assessment at home, before remaining where they are or travelling to the unit.

After labour postnatal care will either be offered at home or mum and baby will be transferred to Furness or Lancaster hospitals for further medical care.

But Mr Farron told the Gazette: "A number of mums or mums-to-be are concerned they will get to the unit before the midwife arrives.

"Some are worried they will not be able to remain on the unit for very long after giving birth.

"Others are worried they will go straight there in a panic and forget it will be closed."

He said this week he has been contacted by both 'upset' midwives and concerned local people.

Charlotte Woof, who gave birth on the unit in July, told the Gazette: "This is something that I feel must be stopped.

"Women that have given birth need help and support, not sending home or being moved to a hospital where they don't know the midwives."

Mum-to-be Kerry Procter said: "Being at home straight away with a midwife on call will not be the same as the support I've had in the past from staying in Helme Chase."

And Facebook user Karen Valentine called for Mr Farron to 'remind the chief executive babies are born 24 hours a day, not 9-5'.

But a spokeswoman for the Morecambe Bay hospital trust, which runs Helme Chase, said the measures are also in operation at other midwifery-led units around the country.

She also described the changes as an 'interim' measure.

Latest figures for October reveal 16 births, out of a total of 28, took place out of hours - but the spokeswoman said October was a 'particularly busy' month.

The on-call system has also enabled the trust to put more 'midwifery hours' back in the community.

"As the midwives haven’t been required to care for women overnight or at weekends, this has enabled us to use 108 extra hours of midwifery time in the community, caring for women in the postnatal period where we needed to improve services," said Sascha Wells, head of midwifery at the trust.

She added that woman can still give birth at Helme Chase '24 hours a day, seven days a week'.