The fight to ensure clinical services in Blackburn and Burnley are dealt with by the NHS - rather than a private medical firm - have received a boost in Parliament.

Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust has ruled that Chorley and South Ribble Hospital can offer the services promised by CATs, giving fresh hope that the same could happen in East Lancashire.

And in a House of Commons debate Health Minister Ivan Lewis said: "The consequence of the PCT's decision is that patients...will get the choice that they deserve, and any unacceptable waiting times for particular treatments will be slashed.

"In many areas, that requires a contribution from the independent sector.

"However, the PCT in Chorley has shown that where the NHS believes that it can do the job and achieve the outcome, it is chosen as a suitable provider."

Officials behind the CATs scheme had initially identified the private Beardwood Hospital, on Preston New Road, Blackburn, and the new St Peter's Centre in Burnley as the potential sites for East Lancashire.

Under the scheme, a range of treatments would be administered by medics working for South African health firm Netcare - a decision which had angered senior consultants in East Lancashire and health campaigners.

But as East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust had achieved waiting list targets in all but one of the areas highlighted by CATs, it was suggested that the Royal Blackburn Hospital - and NHS staff - should be allowed to bid for the work.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has also challenged the Department of Health over extra money which the private sector would receive for carrying out CATs work, compared to NHS tarriffs.

He said: "The first wave of independent sector treatment centres (elsewhere in the UK) was paid 11 per cent more than NHS organisations for carrying out exactly the same operations.

"What is the uplift? How much more will private sector, not NHS, CATS be paid for carrying out precisely the same operations in future?"

Health Minister Mr Lewis said: "The issue was creating a position whereby we could ensure that, in communities where waiting lists and times were unacceptable - and should be unacceptable to the NHS - the independent sector could build its capacity and help the NHS treat those patients as quickly as possible."

Final decisions on the location of CATs in East Lancashire are expected in the next few weeks.