Andrew Stephenson is no longer giving an unequivocal promise that a Conservative Government would re-instate blue light A&E at Burnley General.

An interesting exchange yesterday (27/04/2010) on BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver show.

(01:25:40) BBC Reporter, David Saville:

"He says one of the biggest issues locally is the removal of the accident and emergency from Burnley general hospital, but he concedes the Tories can't promise to restore the service.”

(01:25:49) Andrew Stephenson:

"It’s not a certainty. We are not going round on doorsteps saying: 'vote for us and we will restore the A&E department.' Er, however, Andrew Lansley is very keen for it to come back, but he wouldn't unilaterally as health secretary, he wouldn't, er, demand that the A&E department has to re-open. We would work with local GP's and medical professionals to see what is right.” (01:26:08)

Compare this with the October 2009 edition of the Conservative rag, “Pendle Matters”.

Under the headline “Tory Health Chief backs call for A&E to return to Burnley” Andrew Lansley, who had just visited the hospital, made this commitment: “I am very clear after the conversations I have had that, in my view, there is no reason why there should not be an accident and emergency service at Burnley General Hospital.”

There is no mention in the Conservative manifesto of re-instating blue light A&E departments which are now Urgent Care Centres.

Ditto, the Lib Dems.

I am waiting for the report of Professor Matthew Cooke, the National Director of Emergency and Urgent Care, who is looking at the Burnley issue after I raised the matter with the Prime Minister in the Commons in October last year.