CAMPAIGNERS in Lincoln, who fought to stop a microbiology lab being moved to Scunthorpe, have lost their battle.

Lincoln County Hospital staff and patients feared moving the service from the hospital to Scunthorpe in April this year would put lives at risk.

But a 62-page independent report published yesterday by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) – experts in NHS change – said microbiology services for Lincoln could continue operating from Scunthorpe.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said as long as there was a consultant micro- biologist on call at Lincoln 24-hours-a-day, he was satisfied the new setup was safe.

The former lab at Lincoln County Hospital tested samples from patients for infections, including MRSA and meningitis.

But Pathlinks, which runs the lab on behalf of Lincoln County Hospital, argued services have already been improved since the lab was moved in April, thanks to better facilities and longer working hours.

Gina Tiller, lead panel member for the IRP's review, said: "The main focus of our review was the quality of patient care.

"We considered a number of issues, such as transport of specimens, turnaround times and urgent tests, and agreed unanimously that consolidating the Lincoln microbiology laboratory into the laboratory at Scunthorpe will not compromise services for local people."