Blackburn inpatient vascular surgery could move to Royal Preston Hospital

Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital could stop providing inpatient vascular surgery under proposals to create a single specialist centre for Lancashire, South Cumbria and Wigan.

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board is consulting on plans to establish one regional vascular network, hosted by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. All planned and emergency inpatient vascular surgery would be concentrated at Royal Preston Hospital instead of being divided between Preston and Blackburn.

Around 540 patients a year who currently receive inpatient vascular treatment at Royal Blackburn would be affected. NHS leaders estimate that journeys from East Lancashire could take an additional 15 to 30 minutes by car or 30 to 70 minutes using public transport, raising concerns for patients, relatives and carers.

The proposals would not remove every vascular service from Blackburn. Clinics, diagnostic tests, suitable day-case procedures, follow-up appointments and rehabilitation would remain available locally, while some consultants and vascular nurses would continue working across the hospital network.

NHS leaders argue that centralising complex surgery would provide round-the-clock specialist cover, support recruitment and bring the region into line with national guidance. No final decision has been made, and the public consultation will remain open until 5pm on 27 November 2026 before the responses are independently analysed.

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