MORE than 300 people took part in a rally at Whalley-based Calderstones health trust, the second protest in less than a month.

Staff and relatives of service users at Calderstones held banners protesting at the trust’s plans to move people into the community where they say they will not have the necessary support.

Health union Unison has claimed as many as 400 workers could be affected as health bosses follow a national programme designed to move patients with learning difficulties from ‘large institutions’ into smaller, community-based care. Redeployed staff also face their pay being cut.

Tim Ellis, Unison regional organiser, said they had been told 96 patients from East Lancashire would be moved. “Their care provision is to be contracted out of the NHS and provided by the lowest bidder. This is care on the cheap and it’s little wonder that service users’ relatives are worried.”

Union bosses will meet with the trust on July 8.