Written question asked by Ben Wallace (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 March 2009. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 March 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with university hospitals in Morecambe Bay NHS Trust on the performance of their accident and emergency departments.

Answer: Ministers have not had any direct discussions with the University hospitals of Morecambe Bay national health service trust on performance at accident and emergency (A&E) departments within that organisation.NHS trusts in England are expected to meet the four-hour A&E operational standard of 98 per cent. of patients being seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours of their arrival at A&E. This standard is set out as an existing commitment for the NHS to meet in "The NHS in England: The Operating Framework for 2008/09", a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. It is for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to work with NHS organisations to ensure they are providing an appropriate level of high quality care for patients, and work closely with challenged organisations.

Secondary information