‘No plans to close Burnley General Hospital cafe’

The Burnley Express was contacted by a concerned hospital worker that East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust planned to close the tea bar in the hospital’s Casterton Avenue outpatients department.

The worker said that any permanent closure would be detrimental to patients, particularly diabetics, the elderly and disabled.

The next nearest cafe bar is located towards the centre of the hospital and a long walk from Casterton Avenue.

But health trust bosses told the Express that the cafe was only closed temporarily this week because of a staff shortage.

Martin Morgan, director of Estate and Facilities at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The Outpatients’ Tea Bar at Burnley General Hospital was last week closed for three days – this was a temporary closure and the tea bar reopened on Monday.

“Our first priority is to provide food and drink for inpatients. If there is staff shortage or sickness in the Burnley Catering Department, the Outpatients’ Tea Bar may be closed.

“If this happens we advise staff, outpatients, visitors and volunteers to visit the nearby hospital restaurant where fresh and/or vending machine food and drink is available 24 hours a day.”