HEALTH chief David Chew has slammed as 'totally untrue' claims that up to 70 staff will be axed and the future of Rossendale General Hospital thrown into doubt.

He said a maximum of 14 jobs would go, following a necessary shake-up at the hospital - and he was confident new replacement posts would be found for the staff involved. Trust chief executive Mr Chew gave big backing to the hospital and dismissed claims by Rossendale MP Janet Anderson, following meetings with staff that eventual closure of the hospital 'may be on the cards.'

He revealed that the very future of the £90 million-a-year Burnley Health Trust hung on the success of Rossendale General. "Without Rossendale, the viability of the Trust would be in question," he said.

"It is vital to our future and there is no question of closure or reduction of services."

He said the trust had invested £5 million in the hospital over the last four years and plans for a new £1.2 million out-patients department were well advanced.

"That is hardly a recipe for closure; the future of the hospital is safe," he said. Widespread concern followed the announcement that 31 beds are to go at Rossendale and a ward mothballed.

This sparked Mrs Anderson to twice raise the issue in the House of Commons and launch an area-wide petition calling for the cuts to be withdrawn.

Mr Chew said the rationalisation - saving £200,000 a year - was necessary because Rossendale's acute ward bed average occupancy was only 62 per cent.And he dismissed suggestions that the closure of unused beds would hit services.

"We are treating record numbers at Rossendale with the trend to fewer in-patient treatments, in line with the strong national trend.

"We have bed availability and no-one will wait longer for treatment at Rossendale as a result of the changes."

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