THE NHS in Lancashire is receiving 15 written complaints a day, official statistics have revealed.

The total number of written complaints in the county was 5,300 in 2016/17, compared with 4,600 the previous year, according to new data from NHS Digital.

This equates to a rise of 14.6 per cent in written complaints in Lancashire.

The figures relate to written complaints about both primary and secondary care, which both increased.

Nationally, the number of written complaints has risen by 4.9 per cent to 208,400.

Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group, described the figures as ‘worrying’.

Mr McLean said: “I’m not surprised by the figures as more people are using services than ever before.

“But the fact that more people using the services are complaining is worrying.”

East Lancashire CCG said it saw an increase in written complaints from 46 in 2015/16 to 86 in 2016/17, while Blackburn with Darwen CCG said it saw an increase in written complaints from 13 in 2015/16 to 32 in 2016/17.

“The increase in the number of complaints can be attributable to an increase in people who were dissatisfied with commissioning decisions that the CCGs have made, particularly around clinical pathway changes, continuing health care and gluten-free prescribing and wished to complain about this,” said a spokesperson on behalf of both CCGs.

While East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) said it also saw an increase in the number of written complaints from 338 in 2015/16 to 394 last year.

But the trust said this signified a ‘significant reduction’ from 2014 to 2015 where they recorded 559 complaints.

Chris Pearson, director of nursing at ELHT, said: “We welcome the views of people who have experience of using our services; even if they are critical.”

An NHS England spokesperson said: “More than a million patients use the NHS every 36 hours and whilst the vast majority are satisfied with their experience, those that aren’t can be reassured the NHS takes all concerns seriously.”