EAST Lancashire NHS Trust has said plans are in place to improve patient service at the area's only fracture clinic after it came in for more criticism.

Patients have raised concerns about the standard of service at the fracture clinic at Royal Blackburn Hospital during a visit by Healthwatch Lancashire inspectors.

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The visit was arranged following the controversial relocation of Burnley General Hospital's relocation to Blackburn in August.

At the time politicians and health chiefs said they had received numerous letters of complaint regarding the standard of service following the move.

The latest complaint relate to smoking at the entrance to the hospital's main entrance, issues with a self check-in machine not working, an out-of-date staff information board, a waiting times information board not being kept up-to-date and there was no obvious place for patients to leave feedback.

Other issues included: patients being taken from one waiting room to another without explanation, no drinks machine in the clinic and patients concerned about leaving the department and missing their turn, plus phones not being answered when patients called to query their appointment.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said said it has acknowledged the issues raised during the announced visit and stressed that an action plan had already been put in place to address the concerns.

Helen Ritchie, Senior Patient Experience Facilitator for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We have shared the comments with the Orthopaedic and Fracture Clinic team and they have developed an action plan.

“In addition we would like to reassure our patients and service users that there is a group, which is looking into the issue of smoking on our hospital sites. "The report and improvements will be presented through the Trust’s governance process.

“We would like to thank all members of the Healthwatch teams and we value your continued support to patients and service users of East Lancashire Hospitals Trust.”

Healthwatch Lancashire Chief Executive, Gill Brown, said: “It is pleasing to see that as a result of Healthwatch Lancashire’s visit to Royal Blackburn Hospital the Trust now have a plan to make improvements to those areas we highlighted.

Healthwatch Lancashire will monitor progress with these improvements by revisiting the hospital in the near future.”

To view the report visit www.healthwatchlancashire.co.uk.