4:26pm Monday 5th February 2007
By Lindsay Hoyle
Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust has launched an eight-week consultation to seek the views of the public on the planned establishment of a new Clinical Assessment, Treat and Support (CATS) service.
The CATS service will see the opening of a privately operated independent treatment centre in Preston.
While the idea behind this proposal is to help reduce waiting lists I am concerned that, in the case of Chorley, this will take work away from our local hospital and result in the closure of departments and even threaten the future of our hospital.
If GPs are forced to refer all patients to the CATS service, the outpatients ward at Chorley will be unable to continue operating and will have to close.
This will mean that we are totally dependent on the independent treatment centres to meet demand and question marks remain over how doctors and nurses would then receive the necessary training they require.
I have been lobbying the government to ensure that GPs will have a choice over where to send patients which would ensure that our hospital remains open and only use the CATS system as and when there are long waiting lists.
As stated earlier now is the opportunity for you to have your say and there will be a public meeting held in Chorley on Thursday, February 15, between 1.30pm-2.30pm at St Mary's Church hall.
Alternatively if you wish to see the consultation document and fill in the response form you can call 01772 647184 or access the website at www.cumbriaandlancashirecats.nhs.uk
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