TWO more MPs have backed the Lancashire Telegraph’s Save Our Services campaign, which bids to ensure seven specialist services are kept at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals.

As reported yesterday, the services may come under threat of closure as part of a regional NHS review, which could leave patients and families having to travel to hospitals in Manchester, Preston or Liverpool for some specialist treatments Subject to the review are neonatal critical care, pancreatic cancer care, complex vascular surgery, treatments for severe asthma and HIV, hepatobiliary (liver) and pancreatic care and complex disability services.

 

SIGN OUR PETITION HERE!

 

Their removal would also have serious implications for the future success of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Jack Straw, MP for Blackburn, said: “We have got some first class specialist services in East Lancashire which have received national recognition. They are invaluable for patients here and it’s important for the trust to keep them if at all possible.”

Gordon Birtwistle, MP for Burnley, said: “I back this campaign and I always worry when they talk about things like this. It’s very close to my heart as I’ve worked really hard to keep services in Burnley.”

The seven services, along with many of their counterparts at neighbouring trusts, are under review because they do not meet NHS England specifications, which are more stringent than the basic standards governed by the Care Quality Commission.

Commissioners have not provided the funds to meet the specifications, and the review will aim to improve the quality of treatments without providing large sums of extra cash. The thinking is that concentrating treatments and senior doctors at fewer sites could improve care.

NHS England, which is reviewing the services, said: “There are currently no clinical safety concerns regarding these services and no decisions have been made regarding whether they move from East Lancashire Trust or are delivered differently as the work in these areas has not yet been completed.

“Issues such as accessibility and travel times for patients and carers are very important and will be taken into account as part of the strategic service reviews that are undertaken.”

The campaign has already won backing from Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson, Hyndburn MP Graham Jones and Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group.