HEALTH bosses in East Lancashire have joined in the great debate about the future of specialist children's services in Manchester.

East Lancashire Health Authority has revealed its anger and disappointment at being excluded from the exhaustive consultation exercise to decide the future shape of services for youngsters.

For more than 10 years, health chiefs in Manchester have been trying to work out the best way forward for children's specialist health.

Latest talks have suggested four potential sites for the centralisation of specialist services.

But East Lancashire Health Authority has criticised the consultation for being too parochial in favour of Greater Manchester children.

The authority pointed out that almost 30 per cent of all children receiving specialist treatment were from Lancashire or Cumbria. Bill Ashworth, health authority chairman, said it was "quite unacceptable."

He said: "They have locked horns for too long."

Bev Humphrey, director of strategic planning and contracting, said it was disappointing that East Lancashire children had not been taken into account.

She said: "They seem to be ignoring the needs of local children and dealing exclusively with Greater Manchester."

Eileen Scott, chairman of Blackburn and District Community Health Council (CHC), said there were issues for East Lancashire children which should be taken into account.

Manchester Health Authority and Salford and Trafford Health Authority are undertaking a formal consultation process regarding the future of children's services provided by Booth Hall, Royal Manchester and St Mary's hospitals.

The authorities are consulting separately and the options covered for a new site for specialist children's services are at either Hope Hospital, St Mary's, Royal Manchester or Booth Hall.

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