HAMMOND | Lake County Health Officer Dr. Susan Best on Tuesday denied Hammond residents will lose services when the county takes over the city's Health Department.

"They will get the same services the rest of the county gets," she said.

Best said the county will continue inoculations, TB tests and parochial school screenings for vision, hearing, pediculosis and scoliosis. The same holds true for infectious disease investigations and TB follow-ups.

Of the services funded by 10 grants the city procured last year, Best was familiar with at least six of the programs, which she said will continue. Among them are funding for a public health coordinator, testing for beach safety and programs involving the West Nile virus.

Contrary to a previous report, the county does offer HPV vaccinations, she said. The vaccine protects girls and women against a virus carrying the potential for cervical cancer.

Critics of the closing of the city's Health Department frequently complain of space limitations at the Lake County Government Complex, but Best said the immunization program will be moved to the first floor of the county annex. Best estimated the move would take about six months.

While Best sought to allay worries over service by the county, she also confirmed the Good Government study did not recommend the consolidation of the three city health departments. The study concluded it was better to have the city health departments closer to their communities, she said.

The study found the county's "services are consistent with the general mission of a county-based public health department, acknowledging that more extensive and intensive services are provided directly by the independent city health departments in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago."

Lake County Commissioner Frances DuPey said she believed the study never recommended the county take over the city health departments. "I would prefer the Health Department stay in Hammond," she said.

Lake County Councilman Ernie Dillon said the issue is on a fast-track with county officials. The city's Health Department will close Dec. 31.

Dillon said more meetings with county officials are set for Thursday and Friday. He supports keeping the city Health Department on Conkey Street or an alternative, he said. On the table is a donation of the Conkey Street building to the county, he said.

But Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub said the county can't afford to operate and maintain another building.

"The utilities and maintenance of that building could cost half a million a year," he said. "If it's that, we can't afford it."