THE chief executive of a hospital trust has reassured women they can have full confidence in the breast cancer treatment being offered in Burnley.

David Chew, head of Burnley NHS Health Care Trust, said clinical work for breast cancer patients at Burnley General Hospital was among the best in the country.

His comments came after concerns raised by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council about instances of women being counselled and advised in a Sister's car and on busy corridors and waiting rooms because of a lack of space in the hospital for a permanent suitable office for the breast care services work.

Mr Chew admitted the situation regarding accommodation for the counselling service offered to patients after surgery was not satisfactory, but added: "There is no reason at all that women should have reduced confidence in the clinic because it is very sound. "Members of the public shouldn't have any worries about the clinical outcome or the environment in which it is carried out."

Mr Chew stressed a distinction should be drawn between clinical treatment and the follow-up counselling.

"There is no problem at all with a consultant sitting down with a woman and talking to her or in the examination rooms," he said. "There is no problem with the quality in the clinical services.

"But as far as counselling is concerned we are in a make up and mend situation. It's not very satisfactory and I think everyone would hold their hand up to that.

"In our main out-patient department we are strapped for space but we're moving towards a solution, hopefully by the end of the year."

The CHC said the Sister who runs the breast care service has to share an office with other staff and it was not suitable for talking in confidence with patients. It said the office is some distance away from where the surgery is carried out and difficult to find.

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