HOSPITAL chiefs are hoping their new £86 million hospital gets the royal seal of approval when it opens in over three years' time.

The massive extension to Queen's Park Hospital, which will bring all the services from Blackburn Royal Infirmary on to the same site, is likely to get a new name.

Management want to keep the title "royal", after being given the regal go-ahead more than 100 years ago when the infirmary opened, but they will have to re-apply for the status.

The decision will be taken once the hospital has opened so that royal advisers can judge whether the scheme is successful before they go ahead. It will also save confusion, as there will be only one hospital for patients to go to.

The name change, although controversial, will mean an end to Queen's Park's association with the former workhouse, which was on the site.

Bosses from the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust will be discussing the change at a special meeting in November, but are expected to agree to apply for the name The Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Project director Simon Neville said: "There is a precedent set for calling hospitals 'royal' in this area. But it is quite a sensitive issue really.

"A lot of older people in the county have a particular view of Queen's Park as the former workhouse.

"We would hope, if the board agrees, to propose to call it the Royal Blackburn Hospital."

Nigel Robinson, chief officer for the Blackburn Community Health Council, said: "We would support a change of name.

"The new name will move away from the old royal infirmary and take with it the stigma of the old workhouse.

A spokesman for the Lord Chancellor's department, which deals with requests to use "royal" in titles, said: "Premises have to apply for permission for the use of the name and has to be granted by the Queen, on advice from the Lord Chancellor's department.

"We do not use any specific criteria which lays down that if premises have used "royal" before, they would be more likely to again. Each new case is considered on its own merits."

A spokesman for the Lord Chancellor's department, which deals with requests to use "royal" in titles, said: "Premises have to apply for permission for the use of the name and has to be granted by the Queen, on advice from the Lord Chancellor's department.

"We do not use any specific criteria which lays down that if premises have used "royal" before, they would be more likely to again. Each new case is considered on its own merits."

"There are still older people who refer to it as the workhouse. I think it will also give it a new focus."