A CLERICAL blunder left more than 9,000 people thinking their doctor's surgery times had changed -- and caused chaos when pensioners started adopting the new times, a practice manager has claimed.

The mistake followed a decision by three doctors to merge their practices into one body, operating across three sites.

The Infirmary Street clinic, in Blackburn, has merged with the Oswald Medical Centre, Oswaldtwistle, which in turn also runs a surgery in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

After the decision was taken by the GPs to merge, practice managers asked the Hyndburn Primary Care group to inform all of the Infirmary Street patients -- some 1,000 -- that their surgery times were being changed so they could have access to a female doctor as well as a male one.

The primary care group then contacted the Lancashire and South Cumbria Health company, based in Preston and asked them to mail out the letters. But instead of 1,000 patients learning their times were changing, all 9,000 patients registered at the three sites were told that their surgery hours were changing -- causing chaos in the process.

Neither body was able to give a reason for the blunder, but the health authority said correction letters were being sent out. Rita Naylor, practice manager the Oswald Medical Centre, said: "We don't know what went wrong, but, somehow, we went from sending out 1,000 letters to people at the one surgery to 9,000 across all three. It has been a nightmare."

Surgery times at the Oswald Medical Centre, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle and the Blackburn Road Surgery will remain the same -- 8.30am-10.30am in the morning and 4.00pm-6.00pm in the afternoon -- while the Infirmary Street site will open from 10.15am-11.45am in the morning, and 4.30pm-6pm in the afternoon.

Mrs Naylor added: "It has created real problems for us. Many people have started arriving at the surgery at 10.15am when two of the practises are due to close at 10.30am, so we have had to extend our hours.

"We have had more complaints in the last week than we have had in the past three years put together."

However, the merger should ultimately bring better service for patients, including additional services for patients at the Infirmary Street site.

Mrs Naylor added: "There is already a female doctor working at the Oswald Medical Centre and Blackburn Road and she will now be available to the patients at Infirmary Street.

"Before, they would not have had access to a female doctor.

"They will also have new clinics, while services at St Oswalds and Blackburn Road will also be enhanced."

Anyone with any queries can call the Mrs Naylor on 01254 236009.