A HOSPITAL boss today blamed a fall in demand and the need to save cash for the closure of two rehabilitation wards at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust planned to have 260 rehabilitation beds at its two Blackburn hospitals for patients such as stroke or diabetes sufferers.

But wards B1 and B2 at Queen's Park will close in June, with some extra beds moving to the infirmary where hospital staff will now rely on 253 rehab beds.

The news was confirmed yesterday by the trust's acting chief executive Richard Gildert.

He said there will be no redundancies and patients will not suffer. And he insisted staff had been consulted.

He said GPs were now sending more patients for private treatment in an attempt to shorten NHS hospital waiting lists, meaning wards are less full than expected and not generating enough money.

He said: "It was agreed the wards would close as indicated. The financial position means we have to balance the books. We have a statutory obligation to do so."

He said the trust had a £3.9million deficit and continuing the two wards would have put it a further £1million in debt.

"When we looked at bed opening last year the money we hoped would come through has not materialised. We had no income to support the beds. Despite talks with the primary care trust colleagues there was no money available to continue funding them. We had no alternative.

"GPs have commissioned surgical services elsewhere at private hospitals to reduce waiting lists.

"This is part of a national drive by the government."

He said relocating slightly fewer beds to Blackburn Infirmary would serve patients and staff's needs.

"We have redesigned the services and having more beds at Blackburn Infirmary makes sense because of the closeness to medical staff and services.

But Unison trade union branch secretary Karen Narramore said nurses and patients on wards B1 and B2 remained worried.

"Some patients are here for the long-term and are concerned about this.

"Although some transfers already happens between the two sites staff feel it would be better to keep the present wards operating."

The infirmary will close in 2006 as part of plans for a new £200million super hospital at the Queen's Park site.

She claimed no meaningful dialogue had taken place as the news was announced only last week.