THE closure of Rochdale’s A&E unit has put more pressure on East Lancashire’s hospitals – and contributed to a £1.7million budget overspend.

Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trust shut down the accident and emergency unit in April last year, despite protests from Bacup and Whitworth councillors and residents.

Unions have said the move has put extra pressure on staff at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Before the closure patients from Rossendale Valley were routinely taken to the Greater Manchester hospital after suffering serious injuries, as it was usually closer than the next nearest available A&E department at Blackburn.

Pennine Acute Hospital bosses suggested that Fairfield General Hospital at Bury would take many of these cases.

But it has emerged that around 260 extra patients a month are now attending Royal Blackburn Hospital.

This has ramped up the cost of NHS East Lancashire’s contract with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, as the primary care trust pay the acute trust for the treatment.

Ray Carrick, GMB and the Ambulance Services Union’s north west regional organiser for health, said that the increase put pressure on nurses and doctors at the hospital and paramedics were having to travel further.

He said: “More vehicles are going to Royal Blackburn Hospital than previously so unless they are putting extra ambulances on and staff on at the casualty department that is going to create problems."

The primary care trust, which has a total budget of £346.5million, reported that its hospital contract was overspent by £1.72million – predicted to rise to £2.61million by March.

A report given at the last meeting of Lancashire Cluster board said: “Following the closure of the A&E department at Rochdale Infirmary the activity shifted largely to East Lancashire Hospitals, and consequently the contract held by East Lancashire PCT with East Lancashire Hospitals is overspent.”

Data shows there has been a monthly average increase of around 245 patients registered with Rossendale GP practices now going to Blackburn.

There have also been around 13 patients a month from the Rochdale area coming to the site.

It is understood that NHS East Lancashire will renegotiate its contracts with the two hospital trusts in March to try and take the changes into account and balance its finances.