Tim calls for hospital trust to follow others and make information available

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (UHMBT) to follow the lead of other hospitals in the north-west of England and implement a scheme to offer up-to-date information about patient and staff views on care at the institutions.

NHS trusts in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire will take part in the North West Transparency Pilot. It will publish regular scorecards showing the number of falls and pressure ulcers suffered by the hospital's patients allowing people to see how they are doing. Tim is calling on UHMBT to do the same to help build confidence in the new management and allow patients to see how they are doing.

In Monitor's recent report they say that: "The Trust Board provided unsupportable assurance to Monitor that critical actions had been implemented, when in reality they had not been and the Board should have been aware of that. It is therefore not possible to be confident in the assurance of the Trust Board, particularly given that such assurance was provided after the Board had been made aware of Monitor's concerns about its assurance processes and on significant matters which merited careful consideration by the Board."

Currently the trust is being investigated by healthcare regulators Monitor and the Care Quality Commission and Chief Executive Tony Halsall stepped down to allow the trust to move forward under new management. Tim is working with the board to make sure the turn around plan works and that patient safety is improved.

An NHS spokeswoman hailed the scheme, saying it showed a "new level of openness and honesty". The information, which will be published on a monthly basis, will include five pointers towards the standard of patient care within the hospitals.

Tim said: "One of my main criticisms of the trust has been that we haven't seen the data that is needed to hold trust bosses to account for their actions. I want to see trust bosses agree to join this scheme, which will allow us to see how they are doing and if the turnaround plan is working.

When I met the new Chair Sir David Henshaw, I said to him that we needed a new start. We need to all work together to build on the fantastic work of the doctors, nurses and staff, who are unsung heroes and must have been under incredible pressure for the last few months. I really pay tribute to their commitment and dedication."