ANGRY health watchdog members have criticised the alternative service set up following the closure of an eating disorders clinic in East Lancashire.

And they have also blasted health chiefs for consulting people over the clinic's closure weeks after it was shut down.

High Meadows clinic, Colne Road, Reedley, which dealt mainly with young girls suffering from anorexia or bulimia from across East Lancashire, was closed at the end of July by Burnley Health Trust because the centre was running at a huge loss.

Now Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council want health chiefs to consider High Meadows as a possible site for an eating disorders clinic to serve the whole of the North West.

CHC chairman Frank Clifford said: "We've moved from Rolls Royce standards of care to very, very inadequate care at the day unit at Gannow Resource Centre.

"The levels of staffing are not adequate to meet the basic needs of the patients and their families."

The CHC heard patients were told to go home because no staff were available, one woman who turned up for a relaxation class was asked to put on a relaxation tape for herself, and patients felt embarrassed at explaining to a receptionist why they were at the centre. Mr Clifford also criticised the Trust for not consulting people and groups fully before the clinic closed.

He said: "This closure has been coming upon the Trust for, I suspect, about 12 months so the consultation could have taken place while patients were being treated there. I hope they learn by this mistake."

Mr Clifford said, although he had no evidence to prove a link, in the three or four years up to the clinic closing young people suffering from eating disorders had committed suicide.

"Since High Meadows opened there's not been one case of suicide to my knowledge," he added.

The CHC agreed not to support the permanent closure of High Meadows until the problems at Gannow are sorted out.

The CHC said it was convinced the current service "does not go near" meeting the expectations of the patients, the CHC's requirements or the promises made by the Trust about the future of the service.

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