PATIENTS at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital will have their food shipped in from elsewhere after health bosses revealed plans to shut the canteen there.

Local leaders have reacted angrily to proposals to import food from Royal Blackburn Hospital after it was discussed at a recent East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) meeting.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Documents revealed: “Disappointment was expressed at the plans of East Lancashire NHS Hospital Trust to trial the transporting of food from Royal Blackburn Hospital and closing the canteen at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital.

“Hyndburn Steering Group is unsure of the level of discussion that led to this decision and is concerned about its implications.”

Hyndburn Council leader Miles Parkinson said he would only be happy with the move if the safety, standard, and provision of the meals were to remain the same.

He said: “The proof of the pudding will be in the eating of the food.

“I would hope they have done some trials.

“I will be satisfied as long as there is no deterioration in the provision and quality, and patients are happy.”

Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group, said: “I’m a little disappointed and a lot concerned. The food in Accrington is second to none and I will be very sorry to see it go. I’m flabbergasted. This is not good news for patients.”

Last March, the hospital’s threatened walk-in centre was given a reprieve until later this year.

Following a lengthy campaign by patients and councillors, health bosses proposed to keep the popular centre, at the town’s Victoria Hospital, open for a further 18 months – until October this year.

Nobody from East Lancashire NHS Hospital Trust was available to comment.