The damning dossier, compiled by Burnley and Pendle's Liberal Democrats, features complaints and grievances against Royal Blackburn Hospital, including claims of neglect and mismanagement.

It has been put together after months of research in response to the axing of Burnley General Hospital's blue light services in November, which are now based at Blackburn with an urgent care centre at Burnley, and features 176 complaints from staff and patients.

But East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has analysed the report, and said it believes "much of the 'evidence' put forward cannot be properly substantiated." The matter will be discussed by Trust board members meeting on Tuesday.

The dossier was also analysed by East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, which oversees community healthcare. Chief executive Mr David Peat insisted the principles of "factual assessment and pure analysis" had been applied.

Mr Peat continued: "The perception by many local residents is that there is a lot wrong, the analysis suggests this is not the case in the main."

He added the points raised by the dossier had to be seen in the context of 679,000 hospital cases a year dealt with, including all in-patients, out-patients, day cases, day and accident and emergency attendances during that time.

He said the PCT had recommended action for the Trust to improve the use of buildings, beds and clinic slots and to improve publicity about their availability.

Coun. Gordon Birtwistle, leader of Burnley Council, who is spearheading the campaign to re-instate full accident and emergency department and oversaw the dossier, said: "The people have spoken and the campaign continues and eventually they will realise they are in the wrong."

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