FUNDING for new patients' rights bodies has been labelled "derisory" by out-going health watchdogs.

Nigel Robinson, of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council, said cash allocated to the new Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service added up to the equivalent of a Milky Way for every East Lancashire person.

The NHS Executive North West has revealed East Lancashire's share of the £10million allocated by the Department of Health would be approximately £83,000.

PALS, which must be set up by each NHS Trust by April 2002, will act for patients with problems and replace CHCs, which were largely run by volunteers.

The five new services for the two hospital trusts in Blackburn and Burnley, Calderstones and three primary care trusts, must be easily accessible and run from Trust premises by professional staff.

He said: "That means £16,000 for each service which will fund a junior member of staff - and if we are lucky, a desk and chair.

"The problem is, junior staff will not be able to sort out patients' problems or difficulties because they won't have the clout.

"To be effective, it needs to be available seven days a week, at least 12 hours a day, and managed by a senior manager." Cash saved by scrapping the CHCs is likely to be eaten up by the new patient forums and councils, he said.

Mr Robinson said: "Trusts have to set these up. The Government is just paying lip service to patient rights. If they had any commitment to ensuring patient rights were looked after, they would adequately fund the service."

Meanwhile Burnley Community Health Council has attacked Burnley Council for dragging its feet on debating the abolition of the patient watchdogs.

Burnley CHC chairman Frank Clifford said the group asked all local councils to support their campaign against the plans six months ago and Pendle and Rossendale Councils had acted promptly.

But Burnley has only just set a date for a debate on March 14 - by which time Parliament may have axed the health councils.

He said: "The response from Burnley is utterly deplorable and it is clear the ruling Labour group do not want to support our cause - and that flies in the face of overwhelming public opinion in favour of retaining CHCs."

Burnley council leader Stuart Caddy was not available for comment.