To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will investigate whether the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS trust followed appropriate codes of practice in considering complaints presented by local people on the recent consultation process on acute medical services provision. (99358)

A final decision on proposed changes to the provision of health services provided by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust will be made shortly by the boards of the hospital trust and of the Cumbria and North Lancashire primary care trusts. This decision will then be considered by the overview and scrutiny committees of Cumbria and Lancashire county councils. The OSC has the power to refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Health if it believes that consultation has been inadequate or that it is not in the interests of the health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will urge the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust to reverse its decision to reduce staff by 90 posts until the conclusion of its acute medical services review. (99359)

The decision to reduce the number of posts at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust has been taken in order to return the trust to financial balance and is not connected to the review of acute medical services. The trust board is responsible for taking these matters forward working in conjunction with its primary care trust partners and NHS North West.