CLINICAL treatments, staff attitudes and cancelled appointments top the latest list of complaints over healthcare across the area.

Newly published data shows hundreds of people were moved to submit written complaints to hospitals and other healthcare providers across south Cumbria last year.

The figures, which are rising nationwide, includes 560 written concerns sent to bosses at the trust that runs Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

Cumbria’s Clinical Commissioning Group, the body that buys in health provision for residents of the county, received 26 formal complaints while the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust was the subject of a further 397.

But Sue Smith, executive chief nurse at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, which runs Furness General Hospital in Barrow, said the volume of complaints received by the trust had actually reduced since April this year.

She added this was despite clearer notices for patients and leaflets on all wards on how to lodge a complaint displayed throughout each hospital.

“For 2015/16 there has been a 25 per cent reduction in formal complaints for the first quarter of 2015/16, compared to the same period 2014/15.

“In the first quarter of 2015/2016 we saw a 20 per cent increase in more positive feedback compared to the previous year.

“We have also seen a reduction in the number of complaints relating to inadequate care and complaints about clinical treatment.”

Mrs Smith went on: “We take all complaints very seriously.

“Every patient deserves a response as quickly as possible, so we aim to respond to all concerns with 35 working days.

“It is important that we encourage all types of feedback to help us continually improve.”

The information on formal complaints made in the area last year was published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

It reveals that within Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear the largest cause of disatisfaction centres around clinical treatments with 2,259 written complaints made.

The region is beaten only by large urban areas in this category such as London, Greater Manchester, Birmingham and the Black Country and West Yorkshire.

Staff attitudes are next on the list with 541 complaints received within the three counties, transport issues, including ambulances, garnered 446 letters and emails while delayed and cancelled appointments earned scathing reviews from 269 people.

A spokesman for the Cumbria CCG, said complaints were always taken seriously and offered those in charge a chance to make improvements to the services offered.

“Cumbria’s health services have clearly been facing difficult times over the last few years and in increase in complaints may reflect the scale of the challenges.

“NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group takes complaints very seriously.

“They can highlight areas which need improvement and help teams learn lessons where things may have gone wrong.”

He added: “It’s also encouraging that the process for making a complaint is accessible and straight forward so that patients have confidence they will be heard.”