The NHS's emergency care expert has given the seal of approval to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust's move to treat all seriously ill patients at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

And Miss Marie Burnham, the Trust's new chief executive, told the Express that, in reality, there was no chance of the controversial move being reversed as it is already "improving health outcomes".

Ever since the idea to downgrade Burnley's accident and emergency facilities was mooted by the Trust, there has been fierce opposition. The Express led a high-profile campaign, attracting tens of thousands of supporters, which culminated in a delegation travelling to Westminster to ask Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to intervene.

But the vision of Prof. Sir George Alberti, who as the NHS's national director for emergency access wrote the case for changing the way hospitals approached emergency care, inspired the move to split emergency and planned care.

He returned to East Lancashire this month, as Liberal Democrats in Burnley and Pendle launched a 100-page dossier, containing complaints about hospital treatment from patients and staff, and a campaign to have full emergency facilities restored at Burnley.

But despite public opinion, Prof. Alberti's verdict was the new system was working extremely well. He said: "East Lancashire is currently leading the way nationally in showing how emergency care services need to change to make sure the NHS is able to save more lives."

He added: "The goals of this model are to get quick access seven days a week and around the clock to specialists for the seriously ill and injured, and care closer to home for those who need less critical but urgent care."

He concluded: "The investment in extra ambulances, additional paramedics, a new helipad and more senior and specialised clinical care which these changes have brought about shows a very modern NHS."

Miss Burnham said evidence also showed increasing numbers of people are using the Burnley Urgent Care Centre. In May, 4,200 people were treated at the urgent care centre, which was more than those seen at Blackburn.

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