Wednesday 22 August 2007

Burnley: Leader protests over A&E closure

A council leader is holding an all-day protest outside Burnley General Hospital over plans for NHS cuts, reports the BBC.

Gordon Birtwistle is campaigning against proposals to downgrade the casualty department and send emergency patients to Blackburn.


He started his protest outside the gates on Casterton Avenue at 0800 BST and will finish 12 hours later.


The NHS trust has claimed that the plans were to meet the changing needs of patients and would offer a higher quality service.


A spokesperson from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The Accident and Emergency Department will change to become an Urgent Care Centre, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"The Urgent Care Centre will still see and treat almost 9 out of 10 people.

"Only serious cases will actually go to Royal Blackburn Hospital - which amount to 13% of cases."

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