SENIOR hospital staff have stepped into the debate over the future of Chorley's A&E provision with the message: "Our department is not closing down".

They admitted that staff and patients had been concerned by recent closure rumours, but were adamant that the department's service would not be affected by proposals to transfer emergency surgery to Preston.

This week the Citizen was invited to visit the casualty unit for a snapshot of life in the Preston Road hospital.

Clinical director Jon Whittaker, directorate manager Suzanne Hargreaves, nursing director Sue Reed and modern matron Anne Bowen showed off the busy department, which looks after 50,000 patients every year.

Mr Whittaker said: "We want to get the message across that A&E at Chorley is not shutting down.

"We have made so many investments and improvements over the past few years, but there seems to be a general concern that the department is about to be wound up and moved to Preston. That's not the case."

Plans to move emergency surgery to Preston are part of national NHS guidelines and hospital bosses claim they would affect just one patient per day.

There have been fears from politicians, councillors and residents that the plans could mark the beginning of a winding-up of provisions in Chorley.

Preston and Chorley A&E departments operate in unison, and staff work at each centre on a rotation basis. The departments share common practices and Chorley has just taken on two new doctors to reflect a 3.5 per cent annual increase in patients.

Mr Whittaker added: "When you combine us with Preston, we run the biggest A&E service in the North West.

"Last year we treated 49,000 patients, and we recently had 590 applications for just three jobs and have a full complement of staff -- which is unique in the region."

Nursing director Sue Reed said: "The proposals for change are set out in national NHS guidelines and are derived from extensive public consultation.

"They are being mirrored across the country. It's not about services being channelled to Preston -- it's all about making the best use of the skills at both sites."

Modern matron Anne Bowen admitted that her staff and patients had been worried by the proposals. She said: "Staff do feel a bit insecure when they feel they are not involved in things.

"The patients have been asking us about what may happen to the department -- but we want to reassure everyone that the department is going from strength to strength and will not be shutting."