A LEADING hospital campaigner has joined the fight against the proposed merger of Chorley and South Ribble and Preston NHS Trusts next year.

Jo Smeeton, former secretary of the Chorley Hospital Crusade, launched in 1977 to get the hospital redeveloped and bring it up to district general status, fears 25 year's hard work could be lost.

She has personally written to Jeff Moore, chief executive of both trusts, outlining her concerns.

She wrote: "In 1977 we discovered that plans were in hand to remove the remnants of our services (Chorley hospital) and turn the building into nothing more than overspill wards for Preston's unglamorous geriatric, ESMI and physiotherapy patients."

Jo, who was also former assistant chief officer of Chorley and South Ribble Community Health Council, added: "That was when the people of Chorley and districts finally rebelled -- and we won the new hospital that you see now.

"You cannot say that the district doesn't merit its own NHS trust.

"How many times have you, Mr Moore, said that our new hospital is a victim of its own success, with waiting times and waiting lists in line with other hospitals."

Staff at the hospital are also concerned about the future of some of the services, should the merger happen next April.

The Joint Staff Side, a board of 16 representatives of the different trade unions, fear essential services may be transferred to Preston or Wigan.