THE chairman of a patients' watchdog set up by the Government today slammed hospital bosses for keeping its members uninformed.

Mollie Manthorpe said her forum was not being kept abreast of a controversial review of hospital services.

She said members were stunned after East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust put an advertisement in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph stating the forum was to host meetings this week which they knew nothing about.

She spoke out after trust chief executive Jo Cubbon, in an internal memo, apologised for staff who felt they had "not been kept sufficiently up to date" and said managers were "reviewing our strategy to improve our communication".

Mrs Cubbon said that communication with staff and the public was an "important priority" for the trust.

She said: "We see members of the patient forums as a key group and we have worked closely with them throughout the clinical services review."