7:00pm Thursday 9th November 2006
By Andrew Hewitt
A ROW has erupted between Burnley's council leader and MP after it was decided to send all 999 emergencies to Blackburn.
Gordon Birtwistle has accused MP Kitty Ussher of not doing enough to stop blue emergencies being sent to Royal Blackburn Hospital instead of Burnley General after the joint overview and scrutiny committee for the area's councils decided not to call in health bosses' proposals to an independent panel.
However, Mrs Ussher hit back saying she did all she could to fight the plans.
The committee, made up of representatives from Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, had the option to demand East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust's proposals were reviewed by a Government body overseen by Secretary of State for health Patricia Hewitt.
However, its unanimous decision effectively means all serious emergencies across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale will go to Blackburn.
Liberal Democrat member for Coalclough with Deerplay, Coun Birtwistle, who was defeated by Mrs Ussher in the General Election, said he had campaigned hard to save Burnley's A&E services.
However, he claimed Mrs Ussher should have lobbied harder, especially to the Government, to get the shake-up called in.
He said: "The MP has come out with a lot of bluster, but no action.
"She had the chance to stand up in parliament last week and ask the Prime Minister about the hospital, but she did not ask anything about Burnley.
"We now have to make them pay at the polls."
Labour MP Mrs Ussher hit back at Coun Birtwistle saying she organised a petition signed by thousands of people, managed to have a 30 minute debate in March in Westminster with Mrs Hewitt to discuss the issue and led a protest to the capital to highlight the fight.
She added the Government could only intervene on the matter if the committee decided to call in the shake-up.
Mrs Ussher said: "I personally feel I could not have done any more and the decision is frustrating.
"Gordon Birtwistle promised at the last election to save the hospital. That speaks for itself.
"We have gone from a position of people thinking we were losing A&E to 87 per cent of cases still going to Burnley.
"I am going to keep fighting for the other 13 per cent.
* What's your view? Have your say by submitting your comments below
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk