A LANCASHIRE MP said he hopes an accident and emergency department which closed last month, putting pressure on the Royal Blackburn Hospital, will re-open by August.

Lindsay Hoyle, the MP for Chorley, has been a leading figure in the campaign to re-open the A&E at Chorley Hospital, which was downgraded to an ‘urgent care centre’ on April 18 with, the trust running it blaming an inability to recruit doctors.

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Mr Hoyle addressed Lancashire County Council’s health scrutiny committee, stating he had met with health secretary Jeremy Hunt who was “deeply concerned” and wanted the the unit re-opened.

Mr Hoyle also said his own “tough and robust” talks with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, which runs the hospital, had set a target that the unit would reopen by August.

Campaigners in East Lancashire have previously said lives are put at risk as more patients end up at Blackburn’s already over-stretched accident and emergency department due to the closure.

Mr Hoyle also claimed there had been a failure of management at the trust.

“People are telling us the horror stories; the whole thing is unacceptable and it’s going to cost lives.

“We have a logjam at our A&Es, the management should hang their heads in shame.”

A protest group, who have been holding demonstrations outside the hospital every Saturday morning are organising what they hope to be the town’s ‘biggest ever protest march’ on Saturday, June 11.

One of the organisers, Andrew Birchall, said: “We’re hoping to make it the biggest Chorley’s ever seen.”

“Our 24 hour A and E is such a vital service.”