EAST Lancashire hospitals’ latest cash crisis could hit plans to make big improvements in breast cancer care.

And a surgeon has called for community health chiefs to help bridge the gap to ensure a proposed £300,000 centre becomes reality.

Proposals for a state-of-the-art breast cancer centre were unveiled in September last year, with bosses saying it would be opened in the £30 million expansion of Burnley General Hospital in 2011.

But directors at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust were told a “one-stop shop” for diagnosing cancer and other breast conditions would be needed even sooner and would be vital for the hospital to keep up with new medical developments and targets.

The trust is short of cash, and it is hoped NHS East Lancashire, the primary care trust, can kick-start the £300,000 project instead.

At the moment, women who have found a lump on their breast or had a problem identified on a mammogram usually have to have at least three appointments, visiting both Burnley General Hospital and Accrington Victoria Hospital, just to diagnose the problem.

Consultant breast surgeon Julie Iddon was employed three months ago to develop and improve breast services.

She told the trust board: “We want women who need to see us to be able to get into the system quickly, and get out again quickly, with a one-stop clinic for patients.

“At the moment, many are waiting up to 12 weeks. The hospital trust is struggling, but a large part of the diagnostics is the responsibility of the PCT. If they could fund the building for the early diagnostics, that would start the process and we could add the surgical extensions on later.”

Trust chairman Alan Green supported her, but called for talks with PCT bosses before the project could continue.