A COUNCILLOR has hit out at 'falling standards' at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, blaming "penny-pinching bosses and an obsession with targets".

Coun David Pearson spent a week under observation at the hospital in May after injuring his knee.

He said he had decided to speak out after the row over the outbreak of hospital superbug MRSA in the neo-natal intensive care unit.

Six babies were affected with the PVL strain of the superbug but are now said to be making good progress.

Hospital bosses have been criticised for failing to make the outbreak public for a month.

Tory Coun Pearson, who represents Roe Lee on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said that during his time at the hospital staff did not have time to thoroughly clean wards, while nurses were overworked, leaving no time to talk to patients.

He said staff told him they had to complete cleaning in a certain time for each ward, and had to move on even if they were not finished, while expensive agency nurses were brought in to cover shifts.

He said: "I find it amazing that standards on wards have managed to slip so far since the 1970s and 80s - it's all about saving money wherever they can and making sure they reach their targets. It's not the staff's fault - they are trying to do their best in a bad situation."

But Lynn Wisset, director of clinical care and governance at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We have a strict cleanliness policy and infection control policy and we are regularly scrutinised by independent people.

"In the Healthcare Commission Annual Ratings the Trust met all 12 of the safety and cleanliness standards.

"Nurses do spend time talking with patients. In the recent Healthcare Commission Annual Ratings the trust met all six of the standard care requirements and all nine of standards with regard to treating patients with dignity and respect."