'No patient risk' at finance inquiry Wirral hospitals

A hospital's chief executive has denied patient safety was put at risk, after watchdog Monitor launched an inquiry into its "poor financial performance".

Monitor said it was concerned about the high costs and low income of Wirral University Teaching Hospital.

The NHS watchdog said it would "determine whether there are problems with how the trust is run which may in turn have an impact on patients".

Chief executive David Allison said care has not been compromised.

He said the financial situation at the trust, which runs the Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals, had improved since October.

"I can assure people we will not compromise the level of patient care we provide, [despite the fact that] we've got rising demand for healthcare and less and less resources available."

Monitor said hospital finances were now being closely examined following the Stafford Hospital scandal.