DOCTORS have drawn up detailed care plans for about 20 patients, regularly admitted to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Bosses at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust took action after hearing concerns about the care of an epilepsy patient whose family and personal nursing team often felt ‘excluded’ from his care when he was admitted.

Chief nurse Christine Pearson said staff did not understand his needs as well as his family and personal nurses, so the care was not always as effective as it could have been. She said a system was introduced whereby his admission would be ‘flagged up and trigger a response’ from staff in the A&E, and he could then be admitted straight to the ward where his own nurses would work in partnership with staff.