HEALTH chiefs have been criticised after an investigation into how people were asked about controversial hospital shake-up plans.

A two-month NHS campaign to ask the public what they thought of early proposals could have been better, researchers from the University of Salford have said.

East Lancashire Hospitals Trust put out options for the public's views through public and staff meetings and a leaflet and press campaign.

The move came before hospital bosses decided what final options should go out in the final consultation, which was launched on Tuesday, and received about 1,500 responses.

The research team said: l It was "difficult to assess" the number of responses "due to a lack of a uniform response form and attendance lists from meetings".

l It was unclear whether responses were "elicited or noted in a systematic way".

l Although attendance at staff events was good "more could be done" to involve people who work at nights and in the community.

l It was "difficult" to know how much hard-to-reach groups were involved, the report found.

l The review should have been "more widely publicised" to get people involved.

l The formal consultation had to now be "clearer about the implications and outcomes of engagement".

A patients' watchdog boss today said last year's "pre-consultation" was "deeply flawed".

John Amos, vice-chairman of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum, which oversees the Trust, said: "It really put everybody's backs up."

The hospital boss leading the review, Val Bertenshaw, today said the university was brought in as the Trust was "keen to gain an independent expert view."