LEADERS of a health watchdog have said they want to help turn four local hospitals around.

Last week's Bury Times reported that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had published a wide-ranging inspection report after visiting Fairfield, North Manchester and Royal Oldham hospitals and Rochdale Infirmary.

The CQC gave an overall 'requires improvement' rating — the third best of four possible ratings — amid concerns over staffing levels, leadership and safety.

After analysing the report, Healthwatch Bury, which represents the interest of patients, said it wanted to contribute to the plan to improve those hospitals, drawn up by Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs them.

Barbara Barlow, chairman of Healthwatch Bury said: "We are concerned that this report is critical, especially as it highlights some issues we have previously raised with the trust.

"We have faith in the CQC and our local NHS commissioners to do what is required in the short term to ensure patient safety.

"Within this partnership, we are already talking about what we can do collectively to support the improvement of care at the trust.

"We shall be asking for a clear way in which we can have both input and a monitoring role into the implementation of the trust's improvement plan."

Mrs Barlow added: "If you have had a recent experience of care at any of these hospitals, please tell us your story,, whether it is a positive or a negative experience.

"You can do this by visiting healthwatchbury.co.uk/content/speak-out

"We want to ensure patient voices are heard as they develop and deliver their improvement plans."

The trust's chief executive, Sir David Dalton, said: "The CQC report doesn't make comfortable reading and, while staff will be very disappointed with the trust’s overall rating, we welcome this report, which I believe is a fair assessment of the issues facing the trust.

"We have not waited for the publication of this report to put an improvement plan in place to support staff and patients."