INTENSIVE care services for new-born babies are being reviewed by NHS management who have denied rumours that services could be moved to Preston.

Concerns have been expressed that the intensive care facilities at the neo-natal unit at Royal Lancaster Infirmary could be moved as part of a wholesale review of services.

The neo-natal unit is currently split into three separate facilities including intensive care, high care and a nursery for babies due to go home.

There are fears that if the intensive care facilities are moved then vital minutes could be lost during emergencies due to travelling times.

But senior manager Stephen Evans based at Westmorland General Hospital said: "There is a regional review of neo-natal services taking place which is likely to take several months but there are no specific proposals on the table at this stage to move intensive care facilities. I have certainly heard of no such proposals."

The intensive care centre at Lancaster currently cares for babies from as far away as Barrow and Kendal and, one woman whose child's life was saved by the specialist team at the centre, said: "There is no doubt in my mind that my baby would have died if the attention required had not been immediate. A journey of 25 minutes could mean the difference between life and death."

She added that she hoped management would throw out any proposals to move the intensive care centre out of Lancaster.