Campaigners who have been fighting for the full-time reopening of Chorley A&E say they are fearful that its temporary closure during the coronavirus crisis is an “opportunistic move” to shut the department permanently.

It is understood that staff were told earlier today of the decision  to focus the coronavirus response in Central Lancashire on the Royal Preston Hospital.

The Protect Chorley and South Ribble Hospital Campaign has written to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals demanding reassurance that the full public consultation process required before any final closure will still be carried out when the Covid-19 pandemic is over. That process had been due to begin over the summer.

But leading campaigner Jenny Hurley also warned of the short-term consequences of a temporary shutdown.

“This pandemic has highlighted what we’ve been saying for the last four years – that the huge cuts to services will put patients and staff at risk on a daily basis. It’s taken a worst case scenario to highlight just how much – and people will die because services have been cut back so far.

“It’s not just the people of Chorley and South Ribble who will see even greater waiting times – and, in some cases no access to a hospital at all – but those at Preston, too, with the increase in demand.

“And when Preston is at capacity where do we go? Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn? All these hospitals are already turning people away.

“Who decides who lives and dies? All other areas of the country are looking to bring in as much help as possible to cope in an impossible situation and keep as many staff and patients safe as possible. We’d like to know why we have been chosen to have these vital services removed at such a crucial time.

“Our other concern is that this a back door response to the local opposition for closing the A&E – an opportunistic move to do the deed while we focus on the main priority of keeping as many people safe and alive as possible. If there is even the slightest bit of truth in this, then those who made this decision aren’t fit to oversee our healthcare,” Ms. Hurley added.

Campaigners have been forced to cancel their weekly protest outside the hospital because of the new lockdown restrictions. They have had a presence at the gates every Saturday morning for 206 consecutive weeks.

Last week, 16 protestors took part in a socially-distanced demonstration at the Euxton Lane site.