PATIENTS in Blackburn with Darwen are being shunned when it comes to being provided with NHS aftercare.

Department of Health statistics reveal that only 61 adults in the region received funding from the continuing care program in the second half of 2011- the fifth worst record of all 152 Primary Care Trusts in England, and the worst in the North West.

The postcode lottery means that those in Salford, just over 30 miles away, are five times as likely to be offered free care outside of hospital.

Continuing care should be offered to patients who have a complex medical condition and substantial and ongoing care needs, and can be provided in homes, care homes and hospices.

Only 21.9 people per 50,000 of the population in Blackburn with Darwen were given continuing care - well below the national average of 54.7 and the North West average of 49.6.

East Lancashire PCT produced better results, but their 25.9 per 50,000 uptake is still less than the national and North West averages.

Labour Councillor Ronald O’Keefe, Chair of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, which is currently responsible for evaluating NHS services, said the statistics were ‘very sad to hear’.

He said: “The question must be asked if patients are being given the right information upon leaving hospital. It is without doubt a serious problem and an investigation should be launched into these worrying figures.”

The Health Scrutiny Committee will hand over responsibility for analysing NHS practices to the Health and Wellbeing Board in the new council year and Councillor O’Keefe has promised to make the continuing care issue a high priority.

He said: “This is a vital and important service for all of our residents and the lack of awareness and uptake doesn’t read well.”

Graham Burgess, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Care Trust Plus, denied that the trust were poor at making patients aware of potential free care.

He said: “As access to continuing healthcare is needs led, it is inevitable that our figures would vary from other areas.

"However, Blackburn with Darwen health care professionals receive regular training about Continuing Health Care assessments and are made aware of their responsibility to inform patients about their entitlements.”