HOSPITAL chiefs in Blackburn have pledged to learn the lessons of a report into allegations of institutionalised racism at Queen's Park.

Yesterday's report cleared top officials of racism over claims made by two consultants that they were being discriminated against.

But it warned bosses had a 'great deal to learn' on managing issues involving race sensitively. It recommended a comprehensive staff training programme on ethnic and cultural diversity.

Today, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare Trust chairman Ian Woolley and chief executive John Thomas pledged to implement the report's recommendations 'as effectively and swiftly as possible'.

They were keen to point out that the allegations stemmed from one department only, obstretics and gynaecology, and they were committed to working through any problems with complainants.

Mr Thomas said moves had been made to improve racial equality within the Trust after an external review in 2000 but they now had to go further.

He said: "This new report makes it clear that we still have a way to go and that there are lessons to be learned about racial sensitivity.

"We are determined to learn from this experience. We shall be examining the report carefully and listening to members of the minority ethnic communities to see how we can implement its suggestions as effectively and swiftly as possible.

"I believe that generally, within the Trust, relations between consultants and junior medical staff of all races are very good.

"Unfortunately, that has not been the case with regard to a small number of consultants within O and G."

The inquiry came about after complaints brought by Blackburn with Darwen Racial Equality Council, that two Asian consultants -- Mr Noor Ahmed Ebbiary and Mr Salim Najia -- were being treated less favourably than white counterparts in the obstetrics and gynaecology department.

Mr Woolley said: "The report has been a little painful for us all. We try our best to be fair to all employees, all the time.

"Out intention as a Trust board was to investigate concerns raised by staff in the O and G department. If we have been insensitive in looking into these issues, we are very sorry about it."

The report also criticised some members of Blackburn with Darwen Racial Equality Council who were also 'key players' in the complaint.

This created a clear conflict of interest, it concluded, because the REC formally lodged the complaint against the hospital trust.

The investigation was done by paediatrician and former Commission for Racial Equality member, Lord Chan and Christine Jackson, chairman of the shadow East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, which is due to become a formal body in April 2003 when Blackburn and Burnley trusts merge.

In an early edition of yesterday's Lancashire Evening Telegraph we incorrectly stated that a co-author of the report was Christine Kirk, chairman of the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust. We apologise for the error.