YOUNGSTERS with mental health problems from outside the Burnley area are having to travel by taxi to Burnley General Hospital for treatment following the closure of a vital unit.

The child and adolescent mental health service day unit at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, has been forced to shut because of a shortage of qualified nurses.

The closure has now forced health chiefs to consider merging services and developing a single site day unit in East Lancashire.

Many patients who attended the day hospital in Blackburn are now being transferred by taxi to its counterpart service at Burnley General. In a report to Burnley NHS Trust, which runs the service at both hospitals, its chief executive David Chew said: "The reason for this is the continuing difficulties in recruiting qualified nursing staff.

"The move will enable us to increase the number of children being seen from the Blackburn end of East Lancashire and has been agreed with our partner agencies in education and social services.

"The matter has also been agreed with both community health councils as a sensible and pragmatic short term measure."

The move comes as local trusts await publication of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service strategy document in June which will make recommendations on the future pattern of day hospital working.

The report follows a two-year study into the whole aspect of mental health services for all ages in East Lancashire.

Mr Chew told a meeting of Burnley NHS Trust board meeting: "It is likely the recommendation will be to have one day hospital for East Lancashire, probably more centralised." He stressed no decision had yet been taken.

Frank Clifford, chairman of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council said: "The overwhelming concern is to ensure the service in East Lancashire meets the needs of young people and their families.

"If that means instead of having day units at Burnley and Blackburn and the jam spread too thinly we can a have a vibrant unit in Hapton, Huncoat or wherever, perhaps that would be desirable."

Mr Clifford said the problem of recruiting mental health staff had come about because of the lack of training places made available by previous governments.

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