COUNCIL concerns over the way sweeping changes to the way family doctor and community health services are delivered, will be heard by East Lancashire Health Authority bosses on Wednesday.

But plans to set up a Primary Care Trust for Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are still set to get backing from health chiefs to go ahead from next April.

The new trust would have its own budget and wide powers to control GP and community health services.

It would take over health-in-the-home services now delivered by Burnley Health Trust and link more closely with social services and other agencies to provide more effective services, say health chiefs.

A primary aim is also to make the bodies more accountable and responsive to the patients they serve, and widespread public consultation on the issue has provoked concerns among Pendle councillors.

They say the consultation document does not provide sufficient information to make a firm conclusion and they are seeking greater justification for the major changes.

The council has called for he start date to be put back by six months to clarify issues.

But despite Pendle's concerns, Health Authority members are being urged to give their approval for the trust to be running by April next year.