A PLANNED mental health hospital in Hapton has been giving the backing of North West NHS chiefs – but its size has not been confirmed.

Question marks still remain over how many beds will be provided at the £37.5million unit, pencilled in for Pollard Moor, near Hapton.

The centre would replace the Pendleview and Hillview units at the former Queens Park Hospital site in Blackburn and wards at Burnley General Hospital.

Last October blueprints for a 150-bed hospital at Hapton were put on hold to allow for a government review into the scheme’s viability.

NHS North West bosses have now confirmed that the in-patient facility has passed four key tests, based on clinical need, patient choice and support from GPs.

But further meetings are still to be held over the next few weeks with East Lancashire Primary Care Trust and NHS Blackburn with Darwen, and other county trusts, over how many beds will now be required.

Debbie Nixon, the county’s mental health strategic director, said: “It is important to stress that the number of in-patient beds required across Lancashire, and the number or location of sites, has not been decided.”

Proposals for the Hapton site have been in the pipeline for more than two years.

Another planned unit in Blackpool is at a much more advanced stage in the planning process.

National clinical advisors have informed Lancashire Care, the county’s mental health provider, that fewer beds may be necessary.