HOSPITAL bosses have done a U-turn and scrapped plans to perform gynaecology operations in a portable cabin.

Instead, they have decided that less sensitive orthopaedic procedures – operations on limbs and bones – will be carried out in the unit.

National charity Women’s Health Concern welcomed the u-turn and thanked the Lancashire Telegraph for highlighting its concerns over carrying out operations such as hysterectomies in the cabin.

Health chiefs denied the change had been made due to the criticism, but because they had just discovered the ‘state-of-the-art’ unit could house orthopaedic services.

The decision to cancel plans to carry out certain sensitive operations in the cabin was taken just hours after the Lancashire Telegraph highlighted the issue.

Earlier this week the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that the Royal Blackburn Hospital’s gynaecology unit was to be closed to create space for extra A&E beds and re-housed in the temporary cabin at Burnley General Hospital.

But now the gynaecology unit will instead be put inside Burnley General in the space vacated by the orthopaedic department.

Bosses said they had made the u-turn after discovering a different mobile unit was available which had the extra facilities needed for orthopaedic surgery.

The cabin, which will be ready to take patients by December 15, is fully equipped with infection-busting air flow systems needed for bone surgery, they said.

And he said using the mobile theatre for orthopaedic work would be “much more appropriate.”

Rineke Schram, medical director and consultant obstetrician for the trust, said on Monday that moving the gynaecology ward was necessary to deal with the “unprecedented demand” on the accident and emergency department.

Patrick Shervington, chief executive of Women’s Health Concern, had branded the gynaecology move as unsatisfactory.

He said: “It’s great that newspapers highlight these concerns, and that the hospital has thought again.

“Mobile theatres are very well-equipped, but many women would be concerned about having a gynaecology operation in one.

"Using it for orthopaedics seems very sensible.”

Coun Roy Davies, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s health scrutiny committee, said: “I have spoken to hospital bosses and it is clear to me that this new theatre will improve flexibility throughout the system.

“What was important was that the right type of procedures are chosen for the mobile theatre, and the correct decision has been made.”

The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s divisional manager for family care Ruth Gildert said the ‘state-of-the-art’ facility would be a ‘real asset’.

She said: “We had no idea we would be able to do that at first which was why we were planning to have gynaecology in there instead.

"The final arrangements are still being made. The staff are very excited about it.

“The flexibility of the unit means we can really help take the pressure off the rest of the hospital, as well as freeing beds for emergency admissions.”

Mrs Gildert said the addition of the mobile theatre meant long-held plans to move almost all women’s surgery to Burnley had been implemented early, rather than waiting until the new £30 million women’s and newborns’ unit opens there in late 2010.

Some operations have been postponed due to the changes, but Mrs Gildert said surgeons were working extra hours to carry out delayed procedures, and those affected were being contacted as early as possible to reschedule.