THE number of complaints made against the organisation which runs the Royal Bolton Hospital have increased by more than 30 per cent in the last year — but none of the grievances were upheld by investigators

A total of 47 complaints were lodged with the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) against Bolton NHS Foundation Trust in the past 12 months — compared to 31 between 2013 to 2014.

Of the complaints received, the PHSO chose to investigate five and none were upheld or partially upheld.

The figures are similar to last year where none of the grievances investigated by the watchdog were upheld.

Heather Edwards, head of communications for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We take all complaints very seriously and aim to find a local resolution to them.

"The ombudsman only accepted five patient complaints for investigation in 2014/15 compared with three the previous year. And in neither year were any of the complaints against us upheld by the ombudsman. We were one of only two trusts in Greater Manchester who achieved this.”

The figures were released in a report published by the PHSO outlining the details on complaints against hospital trusts across the country, including nine in Greater Manchester.

It showed that altogether 451 complaints were made about Greater Manchester hospitals to the ombudsman in the past 12 months.

Out of the 84 grievances investigated only 30 were upheld or partly upheld, an increased of 50 per cent on last year.

Neighbouring trusts did have a small number of complaints upheld.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust saw a drop in complaints lodged from 44 to 25, of which 14 were investigated by the watchdog — up on just four investigations last year - and only one upheld.

Only two complaints were upheld against Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust after 42 were lodged and five investigated.

The PHSO is the final resort for patients when complaints have not been resolved by NHS chiefs.

The top three reasons for hospital complaints investigated by the ombudsman were poor communication, errors in diagnosis and poor treatment.

Non-medical aspects of patient care were cited as a factor in almost half of all complaints investigated, while poor communication, including quality and accuracy of information, was a factor in a third of them.

Other reasons for complaints included staff attitude and behaviour, which were factors in two out of 10 complaints.