Contact the Telegraph
Send us your news tips, photos and videos Text LT and your message to 80360 or click here for more ways to contact us »
Columnists and bloggers
Columnists: Jack Straw | Lord Greaves
| Ron Freethy | Margo Grimshaw
| Rev Kevin Logan | Shuiab
Khan | Caroline Dutton | Helen
Mead | Nick Nunn | Matt Donlan
| Harry Nuttall
Bloggers: Sir Bill Taylor (Former Blackburn with Darwen Mayor) | Chris Flanagan (Sport) | Adrian Wilkinson (Motor sport) | Ian Macleod (Movies) | Hollie Steel (Britain's
Got Talent) | Adrian Newman (Travel) | Steve Riley (Computers) | Jason Karl (Scare
attraction)
Latest columns and blogs
Time to have an inquiry
11:19am Monday 1st December 2008
Comments (3)
THE saga over the axing of Burnley’s A&E department goes on.
Today health bosses have revealed that 999 ambulances are set to return to Burnley.
The move is aimed at easing the pressure on the Royal Blackburn Hospital, which has been swamped by unprecedented numbers of patients.
Paremedics, after getting the consent of doctors, will be given the power to take patients not ill enough to need the A&E to Burnley’s urgent care centre.
Campaigners have welcomed the move, claiming it is just the start of the full A&E coming back to Burnley.
Their optimism is admirable, but such a return is highly unlikely.
Therefore the rows will continue.
Health chiefs insist that patient care has not been compromised by the changes.
But when people hear of Blackburn’s A&E struggling to cope with unprecedented numbers of patients, they are bound to treat the trust’s words with scepticism.
A&E had to shut for three hours one night last month because of the shear volume of patients.
Burnley and Blackburn’s former separate A&E departments never had to face such a closure.
So how do we move on from the constant rows and problems?
As we have said, a full, independent inquiry of the changeover – which has so far been denied – is the only way to bring this saga to a close.
Your Say YourLancashire Telegraph
Darren Reynolds, Burnley says...
11:42pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Not one voting member of the committee was prepared to second the motion.
Sadly, these people are too far removed from every-day reality, and the committee structure is perverse.
As the meeting began, I asked one of the members sitting next to me if he would second my motion. He explained that he didn't know enough about the problems. You can't blame him for not reading the newspapers - because he doesn't live in the area.
When I tried to explain to the committee about the problems, the chair ruled the discussion out of order and said I was only allowed to ask questions.
When I tried to present a file of signed complaints from members of the public, the chair ruled that out of order citing data protection concerns.
If it weren't so serious it would be an utter farce.
There is an election to a new board of governors of East Lancs Hospitals Trust due to take place over the coming few weeks. If you're a member of the Trust, do please take a long hard look at the election statements of each of the candidates.
bert.mill.hill, blackburn says...
10:35pm Wed 31 Dec 08
In this section
- Such a wasted opportunity
- Why are we so keen to lay bare our boring lives?
- Market results give new hope
- The dilemma of ‘assisting’ the ill to die
- Pressure must be sustained
- Short-term pain should mean long-term gain
- If you see a peer turning his nose up at Unlordly pong, you know why
- My imaginary menagerie of parent helpers
- Grot-spots can be overcome
- Can’t we use common sense any more?
Sponsored Links
Local advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
chrislancs, gt. harwood says...
5:21pm Mon 1 Dec 08