LABOUR in government would tackle problems of crumbling hospital buildings and NHS staffing and equipment shortages across the North-West highlighted in official reports

The party's health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth made the promise as he claimed many of the problems were causes by long-term lack of investment.

He highlighted reports which said buildings at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Trust were 'not fit for purpose', that the Morecambe Bay NHS Trust had ‘unsuitable environments for safe clinical care’ and that Stockport NHS Foundation Trust suffered from staff shortages and fire safety defects which put patients 'extreme risk '.

Mr Ashworth said: "It is one thing for clinicians and managers to say what needs fixing, but we need a Labour government that will crack on and do it. We pledge that within the first 100 days of a Labour government we will get on top of this to ensure the extra funding we've promised is prioritised to keep patients and staff safe.."