AN MP is demanding answers from East Lancashire Hospitals Trust over the future of its boss, who has been off sick for nearly eight months.

Chief executive John Thomas has been away from his desk since December 8. Acting chief executive Richard Gildert was appointed on January 1 but Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson wants to know when constituents can expect a return to a "normal service."

She tabled a parliamentary question to Health Minister John Reid asking him when Mr Thomas would return to work and last week also wrote to acting chief executive Mr Gildert expressing her concerns.

Mrs Anderson said: "I asked the Secretary of State when the chief executive would resume his normal duties. The reply I got, in the form of a letter, was that it was an internal personnel matter.

"I have also written to Mr Gildert, saying that while in no way did I mean to be critical of his appointment, we were dealing with a vacuum in the most senior level in the health trust particularly at a time when there are developments at Queen's Park Hospital (Blackburn) and Burnley.

"I asked if he could let me know when my constituents could expect a return to a normal service. We need an answer.

"I don't want to intrude into a matter of personal health but we do need to know when he is going to come back or if the Trust is going to make arrangements to replace him on a permanent basis."

Burnley MP Peter Pike has also written to health ministers about the matter.

He said: "It is a personal matter that is being dealt with. It is something that needs resolving but I am pursuing it with with the Trust."

Last month the Trust, which oversees hospitals in Blackburn, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Rossendale and Pendle, was rapped for its financial management, an area where the Healthcare Commission said it had significantly under-achieved. It was given an overall rating of two out of three stars.

Pradeep Passi, vice-chairman of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The chief executive of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, John Thomas, became ill on December 8, 2003. Due to the need to maintain confidentiality I am unable to comment on Mr Thomas's condition only to say that he currently remains on sick leave.

"I am hopeful that this issue will be resolved in the near future."