A TURNAROUND in one aspect of care at Barrow's hospital has been praised after previous fears that 'significant' issues were leaving patients at risk of harm.

Stroke services at the hospital have been given the highest rating as part of a national programme.

Care at Furness General Hospital now has an 'A' rating having previously been rated 'D'.

Fears over the standard of care at FGH and similar concerns at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary previously led to the Care Quality Commission, the health watchdog, putting restrictions on both hospitals' stroke services.

The conditions were lifted by the CQC in 2022.

The rating was compiled under the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme.

Bosses at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust said listening to the concerns of patients, families and carers, working closely with them and 'scrutinising every aspect of stroke care', were among the initiatives employed to improve services.

Anna Nelson, the cross-Bay stroke service manager for UHMBT, said: “Everything we do is for our patients, so it is fantastic news that after a huge amount of work and dedication, our services have achieved ‘A’ grades from the national audit programme.  

“The SSNAP data shows that everyone’s efforts have made a real difference for our patients.

"There has been a major focus on our Stroke Service and a huge amount of effort has gone into the improvements that the Stroke Units at Barrow and Lancaster, the Emergency Department, Radiology, and many other teams and individual colleagues have been making to enhance patient care. The teamwork has been amazing."

FGH was also praised by Barrow MP Simon Fell who visited the hospital following the new rating.

He said it was a 'remarkable achievement and a huge turnaround in just four years', adding: "My massive congratulations to every part of the team for the hard work they've put in to offer a great service for people who need their support in some very difficult times."

Furness General Hospital had conditions imposed on its care by the CQC for people who had suffered strokes in an 'urgent' action fuelled by fears patients were facing 'risk of harm'.

The regulator imposed a notice, requiring the hospital to comply with certain conditions, after an inspection in 2021.