HEALTH chiefs in Blackburn have vowed not to muscle in on Burnley NHS Trust's £5 million adult mental illness contract.

East Lancashire Health Authority has warned that it may bring in outsiders to take over the contract unless Burnley's performance improves dramatically.

The warning followed a consultant crisis in Burnley which only has two adult psychiatrists working in the section.

But Ian Woolley, chairman of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said the trust had its own 'massive agenda' to improve services.

He said: "It would be indigestible to take on board the work of another massive organisation, which Burnley is."

John Thomas, chief executive, said the trust was not an 'aggressive competitor' in East Lancashire.

He added: "We are looking to collaborate with Burnley and make sure that services are enhanced and developed in East Lancashire." Medical director Dr David Grimes said the recruitment of consultant psychiatrists was a national problem.

He said the bigger the hospital department the better the chance of recruitment.

He said both Blackburn and Burnley, on their own, were probably not large enough to attract consultants.

Eileen Scott, chairman of the Blackburn and district Community Health Council, said there were real fears across East Lancashire about the future of the two separate hospital complexes in Blackburn and Burnley.

She said people in Burnley saw the possible loss of the mental illness contract as the 'writing on the wall'.

The Blackburn trust is poised to test the market by advertising for two consultant psychiatrists.

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