ABOUT 15,000 homes have not received a crucial document on controversial hospital changes because of an NHS blunder.

An health boss today apologised after Barnoldswick and Earby were "inadvertently omitted" from a drive to deliver the 16-page document to homes in East Lancashire.

Some areas of Burnley were also hit.

Residents have been told they will now get the newspaper-style document delivered more than a month after most others.

But a furious watchdog boss questioned how the trust would be able to organise the hospital reforms if it failed to carry out a "newspaper round".

Bosses aimed to deliver to about 210,000 homes across Lancashire through Royal Mail and private distribution firm Direct2Door.

Yet only about 195,000 were actually delivered as part of the consultation by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and the area's three primary care trusts (PCTs).

Project leader Val Bertenshaw said: "Unfortunately, in defining the list of postal areas to be covered, the BB18 area covering Barnoldswick and Earby, was inadvertently omitted by ourselves and our partners in primary care.

"We will be redistributing the leaflets in those areas together with some areas in Burnley where back checks show that the required standards were not reached.

"I would like to apologise to the residents of Earby and Barnoldswick."

But Derek Holmes, chairman of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum which oversees Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT, blasted the news.

He said: "It raises the question, if they can't organise a newspaper round how are they going to manage the new reforms? I am shocked that this could happen for something as important as this.."

Under the review more people from Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale will have to go to Blackburn's Queen's Park Hospital for some treatments, including severe emergencies and overnight children's care.

Mr Holmes added: "These are the areas most concerned if they have to go to Queen's Park so it essential they have their say."

Mayor of Barnoldswick Coun Marlene Hill-Crane said: "We feel sidelined. People in the village are worried because of the extra travelling."

Mayor of Earby Coun Chris Tennant said: "It is a ridiculous that you are going to be consulted and then not get the papers"

The document can be found at www.eastlancs.nhs.uk or by calling 01254 293855.