Published at 11:05, Thursday, 02 August 2012

A PATIENTS’ group has expressed serious concerns about the quality of health care in north Cumbria.

Cumbria LINk recently appealed for people to share their experiences after it emerged hospital staff had been flagging up their own safety fears with bosses.

Now, after receiving feedback from patients, the county’s leading health advisory group is demanding answers. The concerns centre around Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital.

Bosses at the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust have been coming under increasing pressure after safety concerns – including potentially serious near misses as well as staff and bed shortages – continued to emerge.

The trust is in the process of being taken over, with bosses from Northumbria due to come in next month. But in the meantime Cumbria LINk said it is worried about the bad experiences that have been reported.

Jane MacFarlane, the Local Involvement Network’s (LINk) representation team manager, said: “Some of the things that patients have told us about paint a worrying picture about the quality of health care in north Cumbria.

“Some people have clearly had bad experiences and their stories point to some serious shortcomings in the levels of health care that should be expected as standard.”

She said LINk representatives have already met with hospital bosses and further discussions are planned.

But they now want to hear from other patients to find out if things are improving.

“We have told the trust of our concerns and are continuing to work to improve the level and quality of care in line with what patients tell us.

“We thank the people who have come forward so far and would ask others to let us know their experiences of health services. We need to know whether these experiences are just the tip of an iceberg or exceptions to the rule,” she added.

Chris Platton, the hospitals’ acting director of nursing, said patient safety and quality care is their number one priority, but they are always looking to improve it.

“The trust recently appointed a Matron for Patient Experience who is working directly with patients gathering their stories.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk