A SURVEY of health service workers in Lancashire has revealed that 50 per cent believe patient care, democracy and accountability have deteriorated.

The survey was carried out by the Lancashire Association of Trade Union Councils (TUC) to gauge health workers' opinions on front-line conditions.

The survey, which workers complete anonymously, includes questions such as pay and condition priorities, the impact of pay on staff morale and issues affecting patient care.

One member of staff commented that pay and conditions were very poor, resulting in shift working and management setting up a working party to probe recruitment in Preston, Blackpool and South Cumbria.

The report is damning on issues affecting patient care.

Comments included: "Staff shortages, low staff morale and stress, lack of service funding, lack of money." One member of staff added: "Lack of money, lack of money, lack of money. It means staff struggle to cope with out of date equipment, poorly-functioning equipment or simply not enough equipment."

John Parkinson, president of the TUC in Lancashire, said: "The survey simply presents the summary findings in the words of the respondents.

"These are the people at the coalface who see the reality of healthcare in the hospital and the home across Lancashire.

"The statistical summary indicates that to every question, more NHS trade union and association representatives felt that the position was worse rather than better for their members or their patients."

Hugh Lamont, spokesman for the NHS Executive North West, said: "Many of the concerns in the report have already been identified by the government and there is a huge drive to improve the NHS.

"Every hospital in the area is getting funding to improve and modernise A&E departments, a telemedicine link is being created between Preston and Chorley, and there is a drive to get more nurses and give nurses more training.

"There will obviously be some staff who are suffering from low morale at the moment, but they should be able to see the short, and long-term plans for the modernisation of the NHS."

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