in February by Lancashire County Council (News, 27 July) will not be taken over by their local primary care trusts.
The council was hoping the five local PCTs would take over the nursery officers' current employment at child development centres across the county, but four have so far declined. The nursery officers provide care, therapy and diagnosis for under-fives with special needs within a multi-disciplinary team.
A spokesperson for Preston PCT, which employs staff with the multi-disciplinary team at one of the centres, The Willows, said, 'We will not be taking over the funding of the nursery nurses employed by Lancashire County Council, as this was not included in our Local Delivery Plan last December due to the council not notifying us of their plans.'
Les Parker, Lancashire secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), representing the ten nursery officers, said, 'I didn't expect anything other than for the health authorities to reject any expenditure relating to social need, which is the statutory responsibility of Lancashire County Council.'
At a meeting last week, the TGWU formally rejected a report compiled by the council on the disestablishment of the service.
The unions argued that accepting the council's decision would seriously affect the service to disabled children, as the current situation was the most efficient and cost-effective way of delivering the service.
The council saved 215,000 in its budget from withdrawing the funding of the posts.
The meeting referred the matter back to the council's Family Support Services, who currently manage the posts.
A spokesman for the council said, 'The joint negotiating and consultative committee met on 17 August. The negotiations are still ongoing and Lancashire County Council is looking to reach an agreement.'