THE reputations of East Lancashire’s hospitals have taken a battering over recent months.

Since Burnley General Hospital’s casualty department closed last November with all emergencies being taken to the Royal Blackburn, the hospitals have remained in the headlines.

Campaigners opposed to the changes have been quick to highlight any problems being experienced as a result of the reorganisation.

A dossier of complaints from patients was collated and the campaign to restore the accident and emergency department to Burnley is ongoing.

But yesterday the Healthcare Commission announced that it was rating East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the two sites, as excellent.

Last time the trust was rated as fair, so hospital staff deserve praise for achieving this result in difficult circumstances.

It was also good news for Lancashire Care NHS Trust, which also received top marks.

The trust responsible for GPs services has also improved in Blackburn while in Burnley it has maintained its fair rating.

The public should take confidence from the Healthcare Commission’s findings, although the controversy surrounding the reorganisation of services is unlikely to end.