PLANS to create a new super NHS lab in the North West by closing local sites have been halted after pressure from a union.

Unite hailed ‘a significant victory for common sense’ after proposals to transfer pathology services from seven hospitals to a new hub in Lancashire were shelved.

But Unite hit out at claims that more than £6m of taxpayers’ money was shelled out on consultants to prepare the business case to secure funding from NHS England, which never materialised.

It would have meant the labs at Barrow, Kendal, Blackburn, Blackpool and Preston being merged into one super lab.

Unite argued it would cause delays in testing samples and have a detrimental impact on the estimated 1.5 million people the hub was intended to serve. 

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Thanks to our members’ dedication, this senseless plan has been seen off. Unite will always defend our NHS services and campaign against the prospect of them being snapped up by the private sector.

“It is shameful that this process has allowed consultants to walk off with £6 million of the public’s money at a time when the NHS is stretched to breaking point. The people who were in charge must be held accountable for this flagrant waste of time and money.”

Unite regional officer Keith Hutson said: “Unite was proud to have spearheaded this campaign which involved in taking on four NHS trusts. The most disappointing factor was the pathology collaboration trust spending millions of pounds of public money to employ specialist consultants to prepare a business case for funding by NHS England, but that move came to nought.

“We urge the board to work with Unite and our members as we work to ensure job stability and the continuation of this excellent service and keep our NHS safe in public hands.”

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