PATIENTS across East Lancashire will be able to call for round-the-clock care in their own homes thanks to the latest health initiative.

The Critical Care district nursing service has been launched by the CommuniCare NHS Trust to provide care for patients who prefer to stay at home, which will free up hospital beds for more serious cases.

Up to four nurses will be on call at Accrington Victoria Hospital between 10pm and 7am, serving Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

The scheme is being funded for a five-month trial period by East Lancashire Health Authority.

Liz Dean, locality manager for Hyndburn, said: "It's a dual purpose scheme which will prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital.

"But it will also increase the choice for the patient and allow them to stay at home if they want to receive treatment there."

CommuniCare already runs the Hospital at Home scheme, which allows carers to stay with patients who have recently left hospital.

The difference with Critical Care is that nurses are based at Accrington Victoria Hospital where they are on call throughout the night.

Liz added: "It's up to a patient's GP to say whether nursing care is needed during the night.

"We now have the nurses at the hospital for Critical Care, which we didn't have before.

"When patients stay at home, the district nurses will be able to respond quickly to their needs."

Staff involved in the scheme have been named as Sisters Kathryn Craig and Sue Chadwick, as well as auxiliary nurses Laura Jackson and Donna Horrocks.

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