Mrs Margaret Walsh (64) fell over a loose pavement slab and cracked her head in Clevelands Road while out with her son, David, and she was taken by ambulance was to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Her husband Norman (60) said his wife, who has epilepsy and walks with a stick, waited for three hours to be seen by a doctor before being given the all-clear and sent home with painkillers.

But she was rushed to Burnley General Hospital overnight after she developed a severe headache, was bleeding from her ears and began vomiting. An X-Ray revealed she had fractured her skull and suffered bleeding on the brain.

She was transferred back to the Blackburn hospital and kept under observation for two days.



Val Bertenshaw, for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Head injuries in general are difficult to treat as there can be no indication of injury and all injuries are treated individually. A patient will be checked and assessed at the time and depending upon their condition will be given the correct treatment and advice.

"Verbal and written advice on what to do if more symptoms appear will be given and if any of the symptoms do appear the advice is to return to the hospital for further treatment."

Burnley's Accident and Emergency department was shut in November and replaced with an Urgent Care Centre which treats non-emergency accidents and injuries.

Coun. Gordon Birtwistle, leader of Burnley Council and campaigner to restore A and E services in Burnley, blasted East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and called the situation "appalling."

He added: "This is just another example of what a complete and utter disaster the move of A and E was. The bosses in their ivory towers should come and have a look what it is like for patients."