PRESSURE on Burnley Health Care Trust to withdraw its plan to shut down the day hospital for the elderly at Burnley General mounted, as MP Peter Pike added his voice to the chorus of opposition.

The Community Health Council has spearheaded objection to the closure of the unit which provides care for more than 40 patients a week.

Now the patient watchdog body is being supported by Burnley councillors and the Labour Party, which gathered more than 500 letters of objection from the public.

As objections mounted, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed that one elderly patient, who had used the day unit for years, had been told to quit - even before the consultation exercise on the issue had been completed.

Chief executive, David Chew, later apologised 'unreservedly' for what he said had been an error. The trust says the unit is mainly providing social rather than medical care, which is not the trust's role.

It aims to re-assess all patients and ensure appropriate care for each patient either in hospital or through social services.

Those needing medical treatment would use the day hospitals at Rossendale General or Pendle Community Hospital under the plan, allowing the day unit at Burnley to be used to deliver an improved admission centre for patients.

Mr Pike supports the better admission service and says that would probably mean a smaller day hospital being re-sited at the General - but he insists the facility should remain in Burnley.

On the social or medical care issue, Mr Pike said: "I believe those needing social service care and medical treatment should get the care appropriate to their needs.

"This needs dealing with with care and with proper liaison between the hospital and Lancashire county council social services. It also needs time."

The health care trust is due to deliver a final decision on the day hospital at its board meeting on October 29.

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