East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

23/03/2026

UPDATE ON ACCRINGTON VICTORIA HOSPITAL SITE

We have today announced that we are working closely with local patient representatives, the town’s MP Sarah Smith and members of Hyndburn Borough Council (HBC), the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Calico Homes to create plans to regenerate the former Accrington Victoria Hospital site.

We announced we were moving services out of Accrington Victoria Community Hospital (AVCH) in September 2024 because it was no longer safe for patients or colleagues. The building closed its doors to the public in December 2024.

Everyone involved has actively taken part in a monthly group driving progress on the site and are keen to reiterate their commitment to regeneration in line with the wishes of local people, preserving as much of its original heritage as possible.

The group’s vision for the Accrington Victoria site includes creating a holistic health and care offering, with a particular focus on those who are elderly or living with chronic or lifelong conditions.

The group’s key priorities are to secure approval for a GP practice to return to the site, work with partners to secure further health services, including those focused on helping the elderly and those with long term conditions, aim to create flexible spaces for health or community activity such as drop-in clinics or events including a café and provide homes which support local people, such as frail or elderly residents or those who need extra care to support them to live independently in the community for as long as possible.

The Strategic Group was equally clear that retail or private housing development had all been ruled out by the Trust and local authority.

You can read the full press release by clicking on the link in the comments.

20/03/2026

We would like to wish all of our patients, colleagues and those in the wider community Eid Mubarak 🌙. We wish you safe celebrations filled with special moments and the love of family and friends ✨.

We'd also like to say a big THANK YOU to our colleagues who are working over this period💜.

12/03/2026

⚠️ Important medicine recall from the manufacturer Crescent Pharma LTD – please check your Ramipril 5mg.

Pharmacies are contacting affected patients directly, however just as a precaution please be aware - some cartons of Ramipril 5 mg Capsules, manufactured by Crescent Pharma Limited, may contain blister strips of Amlodipine 5 mg Tablets. If you have had a supply of Ramipril 5mg Capsules, within the last 28 days, please check you the following:

- Batch number GR164099
- Expiry date 10/2026
- Pack size 28

If your pack is from this batch and the tablets inside are not Ramipril, please return it to your local pharmacy. Your GP can issue a replacement supply if needed.

Full details can be found here: https://shorturl.at/NhZsV

08/03/2026

Happy International Women's Day💜💜💜.
Today, we celebrate the incredible women of ELHT who inspire, care, and make a difference every day. Thank you for your dedication, strength and compassion.

06/03/2026

Huge congratulations to our amazing Baby Friendly Lead Midwife, Donna Butler, who’s won this year’s One Voice Leader’s Award💙👏. Donna works closely with midwives, health visitors, Family Hubs and brilliant local volunteers to make sure families in Blackburn with Darwen get the very best start in those early days of parenthood. Her passion, leadership and kindness shine through in everything she does. Well done Donna, and thank you for everything you do for our families.

Today we’re announcing the winner of this year’s Leader’s Award 📣 and it’s someone who many local families may recognise...

Donna Butler works as the Baby Friendly Lead Midwife at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust .

Donna and her team of two specialist staff and three support workers, offer invaluable support for families in the crucial early days of parenthood, working with midwives, health visitors, perinatal mental wellbeing teams, early years teams in Family Hubs, Public Health colleagues and parent volunteers.

The Leader’s Award is part of the annual 1V Awards, led by local charity Voice Blackburn. It recognises an individual or organisation that shows strong leadership, enhancing the reputation of the town and with a strong cohesion ethos.

Each year the winner is chosen by Council Leader Councillor Phil Riley.

Councillor Phil Riley commented:

“This year’s winner is an inspirational leader whose work has been having a huge impact on others in Blackburn with Darwen for some time.

“Donna Butler leads with a passion for making life better for parents and carers, and for giving babies and children in our borough the very best start.

“She works closely with our Public Health team and our Family Hubs, as well as collaborating with a range of other local agencies, to make sure families are supported through the challenges of the first 1,001 days of a child’s life.

“She and her team engage with our local communities, and respond to their diverse needs to ensure the services they offer meet families’ needs. We’re very lucky to have Donna in Blackburn with Darwen, and I congratulate her on her success.”

You can read the full story on Donna Butler’s award – including her reaction – on The Shuttle news website – see the link in comments. ⬇

19/02/2026

Congratulations to Charlotte Marsden, Clinical Audit and Effectiveness Facilitator who was awarded highly commended in the “Above and Beyond” category at the NHS Health and Social Care Apprenticeship Awards 2025💜⭐. Charlotte was nominated for this award by her team for consistently going above and beyond. She led a project to improve compliance with a nutrition screening tool, raising standards to 96% and directly enhancing patient care. Beyond her core work, Charlotte also took the initiative to enhance a nutrition and hydration dashboard, improving its functionality and appearance.

Well done Charlotte👏

16/02/2026

Colleagues on our Marsden Ward marked the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics with their own Olympic-style rehab games for their patients at Pendle Community Hospital🏅💙.
The week-long event, full of fun and movement, was designed to support rehabilitation for stroke patients. The week opened with a torch procession and was officially launched by Clitheroe’s Town Cryer, Roland Hailwood and closed with a local brass band playing, medals presented and a visit from Colne-born Paralympic gold medallist Gregg Stevenson. With 91% of patients on the ward taking part daily, many stood or took steps for the first time since their stroke👏.

06/02/2026

Join our friendly team of hospital volunteers. Not only will you make a positive difference to our patients and colleagues, you’ll also develop skills, make memories and gain friends for life💚. We are looking for volunteers to work as wayfinders at both Burnley General Hospital and Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Click the link in the comments to apply or to find out more👇.

05/02/2026

Congratulations to Dr Duncan Gavan, who won the Trust’s Star Award for Lifetime Achievement as part of our Star Awards presentations💙⭐. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to attend the virtual ceremony, his team in Interventional Radiology organised for him to be surprised by the Chairman at the time Shazad Sarwar to be presented with his award. Dr Gavan’s arrival at ELHT in 1995 was described as ‘a breath of fresh air’. He quickly transformed radiology at Blackburn through vision, innovation and unwavering compassion. He performed both the first groundbreaking Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) in 1999 and the 500th in 2024, exemplifying three decades at the forefront of interventional radiology.
His colleagues consistently describe him as one of the hardest working clinicians they have ever met and the respect he has earnt across the Trust is profound.

Well done, Duncan👏.

02/02/2026

From today, Monday 2 February 2026, patients attending the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Acorn Primary Healthcare Centre in Accrington will need to access the Unit via the main entrance of Acorn, located directly within the main car park.
This is a temporary measure whilst essential redevelopment work takes place. The MIU reception desk will be based in the main atrium, and the check‑in and streaming process will stay exactly the same.
All services will continue as normal — only the entrance is changing.
Clear signage will be in place to help guide you to the right location but please share this update to help spread the word as widely as possible.

31/01/2026

Our team is here to welcome you at the Minor Injuries Unit👋. They can treat: sprains and strains, broken bones, wound infections, minor burns and scalds, minor head injuries, insect and animal bites, minor eye injuries and injuries to the back, shoulder and chest.
They are based at the Acorn Centre, 421 Blackburn Rd, Accrington BB5 1RT and are the same services and teams that were previously at Accrington Victoria. The unit is open seven days a week from 8am until 8.30pm🏥💙.

30/01/2026

Our team is here to welcome you at the Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC)👋. The team are based at Burnley General Hospital and they can treat suspected broken bones or breathing difficulties which need immediate care but are not life-threatening and are available 24 hours a day.
This is one of a number of services that can help you with your health needs, don't forget our Minor injuries unit, local pharmacies and NHS 111 can also help you. Please work with us to help keep the Emergency Department free for people with life and limb threatening conditions.