Whether or not South Lakeland patients needed a new type of waiting time-busting health centre was one of the key questions posed by the audience at this week's The Great Debate.
The new Clinical Assessment, Treatment and Support services, which have become known as CATS, were under the spotlight as part of a consultation.
Peter Clarke, of Cumbria Primary Care Trust, explained that the CATS centres in Cumbria and Lancashire would be run by Netcare UK - a private company which was the "preferred bidder".
The Government wanted to bring down waiting times to 18 weeks from the time someone saw a GP to the point of treatment beginning, and CATS centres had been developed as a way of increasing capacity, he said.
In Cumbria, centres could be opened at Ulverston Health Centre, Workington Community Hospital, and Hilltop Heights in Carlisle.
For the full story see the February 16 edition of The Westmorland Gazette.
To watch a videocast of highlights from The Great Debate, click on video news.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article