A RADICAL plan to merge hospital services in Blackburn and Burnley to create a single NHS trust for East Lancashire was revealed today.

The move could mean more patients across the district being forced to travel between Burnley General and Blackburn hospitals for surgery.

The government is examining the possibility of merging the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust with the neighbouring NHS trust covering Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Health chiefs admitted today that the creation of a single NHS trust for East Lancashire would save money, but would reduce the frequency of patients having to travel to Manchester, Preston or other hospitals outside the district for specialist treatment.

But health campaigners have long feared that a merger could lead to cuts in services at both hospitals and today health watchdogs said they would not want to see a single accident and emergency department covering the area. The merger would mean specialist services, including urology and vascular surgery, being centred at either Queen's Park Hospital or Burnley General, with patients having to travel from one area to the other for surgery.

An NHS discussion document, "Fit for the Purpose," has suggested the change as part of a radical shake up of health organisations in the region. Other possible changes could see Lancashire Ambulance Service merging with one of its neighbours, either Greater Manchester or Cumbria. Health chiefs have stressed that the document is only the start of a discussions between councils, health chiefs and other bodies that will last months.

At the annual meeting of Burnley Health Care NHS Trust last night, chief executive David Chew said he doubted there would be money available to create one "super hospital" to cover both areas.

He said: "It does mean Burnley and Blackburn working together on existing sites with the potential at some stage to merge - but I don't believe anything is going to happen quickly."

Nigel Robinson, chief officer of patient watchdog group, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council (CHC), said: "This is a debate that needs to take place because of the speed of change in the NHS.

Helen Gee, chief officer for Burnley Pendle and Rossendale CHC, said: "We will be discussing this document internally and we will have a joint meeting with Blackburn CHC. We would not like to see, for example, one accident and emergency department to cover such a vast area."

David Peat, chief executive of East Lancashire Health Authority, said: "The aim of bringing together Burnley and Blackburn would be to reduce costs, but maintain the standards of health services and clinical standards."

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