8:10pm Friday 21st August 2009
By Chris Hopper
EAST Lancashire hospitals bosses have scrapped a bid to break free from Government control because of worries over spiralling debts and problems with accident and emergency provision.
Health chiefs want prestigious foundation status so they have more freedom over how Blackburn and Burnley hospitals are run.
But they have conceded they will not meet strict Department of Health guidelines before they were due to submit their bid next month.
It comes after East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust admit-ted last month it faced a £6million fin-ancial black hole by the end of the year while Blackburn’s A&E is struggling to meet four-hour waiting targets. But yesterday, the trust insisted it remained confident of successfully reapplying for foundation status next year.
However, critics said there was “no prospect whatsoever” of East Lancashire’s hospitals breaking free from Whitehall in the foresee-able future.
Many have blamed problems at the trust on the decision to close Burnley General Hospital’s A&E and move other services to Blackburn.
Darren Reynolds, a public governor on the foundation trust bid, said: “I am not surprised.
“The biggest problem at the trust is the state of the finances but, on top of that, staff morale is at rock bottom and they are not meeting A&E targets.
“There is no prospect whatsoever of the trust being in a position to resubmit a foundation bid in the next couple of years.”
Hospitals campaigner and Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: “This move is symptomatic of the rank mismanagement of the trust. It is absolutely appalling.
“The waiting times will not go down because Blackburn hospital is not big enough and we need an A&E and other blue light services back in Burnley.”
Trust bosses originally intended to apply for foundation status last December but it was delayed until next month because of cash and A&E problems.
Managers at foundation hospitals enjoy more powers, including public boards and financial freedom to raise money from the private sector.
A trust spokeswoman said: “The board remains fully committed to achieving foundation trust status.
“But it felt that a period of refinement was necessary in order to address the current financial challenges, to allow the actions taken to improve four hour performances to become established and to enable new members of the trust board to have input into the application.”
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