ANGER erupted today after hospital chiefs said they plan to close one ward at a maternity unit just three years after it opened.

Ten beds at the Queen's Park Hospital department in Blackburn could be chopped in the cost-cutting move.

The unit opened in December 1994 and signalled the closure of Accrington Victoria Hospital's maternity beds, despite a fierce campaign.

Campaigners say the latest plans, which will save about £110,000, vindicate their fears when they fought to save the Hyndburn unit from closure.

They predicted that the new maternity unit in Blackburn would have too many beds.

Hyndburn councillor Sheelagh Delaney, who was part of the huge protest campaign, today blasted: "This is a bitter pill for us to swallow.

"I think some of these changes could lead to better facilities, but I take no pleasure in saying 'I told you so'.

"I would rather they listened to us at the time and maybe we would still have a building in Hyndburn." John Thomas, chief executive of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said the current number of beds was not needed and the service could operate as effectively with fewer beds. When the unit opened there were 88 beds, but there are currently 76.

The plan is to close ward B1, which has 15 designated midwifery beds and put other GP and midwifery beds on consultant-led wards, bringing the number of beds to 66.

The trust also wants to develop a foetal assessment unit which would provide day care for women experiencing problem pregnancies.

The trust says it is making the changes in response to the Government's Changing Childbirth policy, which focuses on midwifery-led care.

It is also responding to an Audit Commission report last year which expressed concern at the high cost of the maternity service in Blackburn and declining bed occupancy levels.

Mr Thomas added: "Occupancy levels have declined as mums have decided to spend less time in hospital after giving birth. We have been at the forefront of the Government's Changing Childbirth policy. I am confident that if we have to reduce beds it will in no way affect the service we provide.

"Discussions we have had about the plans with the Community Health Council have been geared towards improving the service."

The proposals will be considered by East Lancashire Health Authority, probably next month, and will go to public consultation in the spring.

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