PROPOSALS to strip the North-East of its only specialist children's burns unit could force seriously ill youngsters to travel hundreds of miles for treatment.

If the Newcastle Hospital Trust Burns Service closes, children living in the North-East and North Yorkshire would not be treated locally.

Experts have advised the Department of Health that the North-East does not need a specialist burns unit for children.

Members of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forums are urging people to campaign against the proposals.

They fear children who suffer serious burns may have to travel to Manchester, Birmingham, Chelmsford or Swansea - the only recognised centres under the proposals.

On average, the Newcastle Hospital Trust Burns Service treats about 130 children a year.

According to the PPI forums, the Department of Health intends to reduce the number of specialised burns units.

A draft report by the National Burn Care Group, a committee of experts that is advising the Department of Health, suggests the North-East does not need facilities for children.

Shirley Alexander, vice-chairwoman of the Newcastle Hospitals Trust Patient and Public Involvement Forum, said she was concerned that victims and their families will suffer.

She said: "Transferring severely injured youngsters to hospitals as far away as Manchester or Birmingham will create huge problems, not just for the patient, but also for family members attempting to visit them.

"The report by the National Burn Care Group is currently open to consultation, and both PPI forums and the Newcastle Hospital Trust will continue to fight to ensure the North-East receives full 'burns centre' status for both adults and children."

The PPI forums are also concerned that in situations where families suffer burns, adults and children could be treated apart.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We would not get involved in this until we are further along the consultation process, and not at all if the consultation did not go ahead."