EAR, nose and throat patients in Burnley and Pendle who need to stay overnight will, from Monday, have to travel to Blackburn for treatment.
The change is part of a move to integrate eye and ear services at Burnley General Hospital and Blackburn Royal Infirmary.
The local health authority shake-up also means that overnight eye-surgery patients in Blackburn will have to come to Burnley.
Health chiefs at Burnley NHS trust and Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS trust say the integration will improve services.
East Lancashire Health Authority got the go-ahead in September 1995 from the Secretary of State for Health to make the changes.
Out-patient clinics and day surgeries for both specialities will still be available in Burnley and Blackburn.
However all patients who may have to travel will be informed beforehand and an explanation of how to get to hospital will be provided.
It is hoped the changes will help attract high quality junior doctors who want to work in larger departments with more consultants offering experience and expertise. It will also assist in the reduction of junior doctors hours.
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