Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
When you need advice, have concerns, or are unsure where to turn.
What is PALS?
PALS is a free and confidential service run by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) and is part of the Patient Relations Department.
If you need to speak to one of our PALS Officers in person, you can contact PALS and we will try to make arrangements that suit you.
PALS can:
- liaise with Trust staff on your behalf and help organise meetings
- give you information about hospital services across Morecambe Bay
- tell the Trust what works well and what needs changing from your valued feedback
- pass on your comments and compliments to specific wards, departments, and staff
- help deal with any concerns you have as quickly as possible
- help you discover local health services
Who can use PALS?
Anyone who uses the services of UHMBT can get in touch with PALS for information, advice or to make suggestions about how hospital services can be improved. This includes patients, relatives, or visitors to the Morecambe Bay area.
If your concern is about a friend or relative, we may require consent from the individual. If you have concerns about another health service provider, we may require consent to share your information. This will be discussed in more detail with you.
What if I have a problem?
If something is bothering you, the first thing to do is talk to a member of staff responsible for your care, or a more senior member of staff. The staff on the ward or in the department can help you with this.
If you find this difficult, or if the problem continues, you can get in touch with PALS.
PALS can help by:
- working with staff to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible.
- helping to arrange a meeting for you with relevant staff to discuss your concerns further.
- giving you more information about your health care.
- helping you to find out about any relevant local support groups in your area.
PALS Officers are situated at each of the Trust's three main sites:
- Furness General Hospital
- Royal Lancaster Infirmary
- Westmorland General Hospital
How can I contact PALS?
PALS is part of the Patient Relations Department and is available from 9am until 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
You can contact PALS by:
- Telephone: 01539 715577 - central 24 hour line. This is an answerphone only service; you will receive a call back during office hours.
- Email: PALS@mbht.nhs.uk
- Face-to-face: to book an appointment, please telephone 01539 715577.
You can leave general feedback for the Trust on our website by visiting the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay website (https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/) and going to: 'Get in Touch' - ' Patient Relations and PALS’.
Information Approved by: PR & PE
Date of Publication: 20/04/2016
Reference Number: PIL033
Author: Patient Relations
Review Date: 01/09/2025