HEALTH bosses have demanded that the Prime Minister visits East Lancashire before imposing major reforms.

NHS Blackburn with Darwen has invited David Cameron and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to the borough because bosses are concerned cuts could ‘unravel’ much of its recent progress.

They are being invited as part of their ‘listening tour’ to discuss changes to how the controversial NHS reforms will be imple-mented.

Plans, under the Health and Social Care Bill, could see the transfer of around 60 per cent of the NHS budget to GPs, as well as proposals to scrap primary care trusts, appoint an independent NHS comm-issioning board and make it easier for private firms to win NHS contracts.

Sir Bill Taylor, chair of NHS Blackburn with Darwen, said: “They have pledged to pause and listen so we think this is as good an opportunity as any for them to see the partnership working taking place in Blackburn with Darwen between the council and the NHS.

“We have concerns that the NHS reforms do not reflect the progress that has been made between councils and the NHS and threaten to unravel much of that progress.

“I would like to show them that if you develop close collaboration between GPs, the rest of the NHS and local government you can meet the tough savings targets whilst at the same time tackling the top down nature of the NHS which the Secretary of State says he wants to address.” Recently Black-burn with Darwen Council was named authority of the year in a national award, recognising its local collaborations.

NHS Blackburn with Darwen said it wants the PM and Mr Lansley to see for themselves firsthand how the successful shared service between the Black-burn with Darwen Council and NHS Blackburn with Darwen is working.

Sir Bill said: “Blackburn with Darwen Council and NHS are one of the only areas of the country which have integrated senior managers and other functions such as public relations and HR which has helped save £2million in management overheads.

“However, this threatens to be undone as the NHS reforms place greater emphasis on the NHS restructuring itself to try and reduce costs.”