AN investigation has been launched after a cancer patient's wife claimed she was told to provide her own toilet roll for the lavatory on his ward.

Betty Poskitt has raised a catalogue of complaints with the new £113million Royal Blackburn Hospital about the way in which her long-term partner was treated during his seven-week stay.

Ron Poskitt, 82, was admitted to the hospital in August over fears he had developed jaundice.

Tests later showed he had cancer of the gall bladder and liver, but Ms Poskitt claims the news was not delivered in a sensitive manner.

He is now being cared for at home by Macmillan nurses.

His 66-year-old partner said: "He was told he was seriously ill in front of everybody. When Ron asked how long he had the doctor just shrugged his shoulders."

Ms Poskitt, from West End, Oswaldtwistle, claims that he had been left to lie in soiled pyjamas and when she had asked a nurse for a toilet roll to help clean him up she was told there was none, and that she would have to bring her own from home.

However, once Mr Poskitt was moved to a different ward his treatment improved dramatically, according to Ms Poskitt. She has now taken her complaints to the hospital management.

A hospital spokesperson said that the matter, if confirmed, appeared to be a one-off incident and added: "There is no problem with the supply of toilet roll at the hospital and it is certainly not normal practise to ask patients or relatives to bring their own in with them."

Ruth Gildert, head of patient experience, said: "I understand that Ms Poskitt has concerns about the care of her partner, Mr Poskitt, which she has raised with our PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) officer.

"We are in the process of investigating Ms Poskitt's concerns and we will be in touch with her within the next few days." John Amos, vice chairman of the Patient and Public Involvement watchdog which oversees hospital services in East Lancashire, said: "While we can not comment on individual cases it does sound as though this lady has got good cause to complain and she should do so by contacting PALS.

"I would not regard this treatment to be acceptable. However, I have not heard of any similar complaints."