Bosses scotch rumours that Blackburn lung unit is to close (From This Is Lancashire)

Bosses scotch rumours that Blackburn lung unit is to close

8:00pm Saturday 11th August 2012 in News

BOSSES at the Royal Blackburn Hospital have scotched rumours that a specialist lung unit is to close down.

Thirteen people have signed an e-petition started by patient Robert Caddick on the HM Government website, calling for the Respiratory Assessment Centre not to be downgraded or closed.

The unit accepts referals from GPs via the medical assessment unit, emergency department and from ward teams.

The focus of the unit is to provide timely interventions to patients suffering exacerbation of their lung condition, and to allow them to return home with a structured plan of care including strategies to manage their own condition.

A Trust spokesperson said that the Respiratory Assessment Centre been running since June 2011, initially as a pilot project, and that positive outcomes led to it being continued.

He added: “We are pleased Mr Caddick and his wife have had a good experience of the unit and would like to assure them that there are no plans to discontinue this service.

“All services within East Lancashire Trust are under constant review to ensure that we are delivering the highest quality and most appropriate care for our population.”

The petition read: “This unit has been operating since May and has been downgraded twice already. Now rumour has it that this unit may be closed.

“My wife has recently required the services of this unit and the treatment she has received has shown the NHS in this department and the other agencies that are linked to it, at their very best.

“This unit should not be allowed to close and it should be upgraded as soon as possible. I would like the government to take action to make sure this excellent service remains operational.”