AS a member of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council I have to announce, with regret, that we were unable to prevent the NHS Trust from taking £140,000 from the fund intended to finance the care of the mentally ill, elderly people of our community

The Trust has promised to restore £100,000 of this money by April 1, 2000 and the remaining £40,000 by April 1, 2001.

This is a firm, unconditional commitment. Additionally, the Trust has undertaken that, within this period, all facilities and staffing levels deemed necessary by the consultants in charge will have been completed.

Healthcare workers and carers of these unfortunate people, including NHS staff, will, of course, need to monitor the situation, just in case any additional money allocated by government during this period does not get confused with this £140,000.

I am confident that the Trust can be relied on to honour this commitment, but a constant check by all concerned might be no bad idea.

H HORNE (Mr), Brunshaw Road, Burnley.

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