Morecambe Bay hospitals trust 'needs improvements'

Interim chief executive Eric Morton said the trust had improved in a 'number of areas'

Improvements are needed at a trust that runs hospitals in Cumbria and Lancashire, its interim chief said following a patient survey.

Patients said they were not helped to go to the bathroom and waited too long after pressing the call button.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Eric Morton said patients should expect "a consistently high standard of care".

The trust has been criticised by health watchdogs and probed over baby deaths.

Mr Morton said the survey showed there had been some improvements since last year but admitted more work was needed.

"We are not going to achieve this overnight. However, we are already making significant improvements in a number of key areas," he added.

Mr Morton said the trust performs "relatively well" in ensuring patients have enough time to discuss treatment with a consultant and in helping them eat meals.

But he said nearly half of patients said they were not given written information about what to do when they were discharged.

The trust , which runs the Furness and Westmorland General hospitals, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, has already been ordered to make changes by health watchdogs.

Deaths at the baby unit at Furness General Hospital, in Barrow, are being investigated by police and health regulators have criticised standards at Royal Lancaster Infirmary' s A&E unit.