Hospital site sale may cut debt

The Blackburn Royal Infirmary site is being redeveloped

Health trust managers in Lancashire are considering selling one of the county's main hospital sites to help knock £1m off the authority's debts.

The East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust is considering a "land transfer" at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, to help reduce its £5.5m deficit.

The trust runs hospitals in the Blackburn, Nelson, Accrington, Burnley and Rawtenstall areas.

The idea will be presented to the trust in a report on Thursday.

The trust's acting director of finance, Stephen Brookfield, says in the report it is possible £1m could be knocked off the debt with the transfer of the Blackburn Royal Infirmary site.

A new multi-million pound hospital extension at Queens Park in Blackburn is set to replace facilities at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

The infirmary site is being redeveloped in association with Elevate housing regeneration.