EAST Lancashire's struggling A&E service will suffer because of the shutdown of NHS call centres, a health watchdog warned today.

More people will go to hospital for minor treatment because they won't be able to get through to NHS Direct, the chairman of one of the area's patient and public involvement watchdogs said.

The Government yesterday proposed to shut NHS Direct call centres in Chorley, Bolton and Preston.

A further nine would close throughout England with up to 573 redundancies during the next 18 months.

The service offers telephone advice to people on whether they need to go to hospital or see their GP.

The proposed closures, to save cash, comes as East Lancashire's health authority sees an increase in people attending A&E, swelling waiting times.

Attendances have risen by 20,000 in the last six years to almost 140,000 people a year.

Bosses have to get 98 per cent of people seen in four hours - but only managed 96.4 per cent in April.

Mollie Manthorpe, chairman of the PPI forum for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "It may well mean that A&E will get more and more crowded. NHS Direct needs more resources, not cutting down.

"People already go to A&E as the first resort instead of the least one and this won't help that. And those who do call will have to wait longer."

The move, which is out to consultation until August 16, is to save £15 million. The service handles 6.5 million calls a year through 54 call centres.