A Wirral MP has paid his first visit to Arrowe Park Hospital since being elected to find out more about the 'innovative' work that is helping get patients well and back home in the community.

Matthew Patrick, Member of Parliament for Wirral West, met with Janelle Holmes, chief executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, which runs Arrowe Park Hospital to learn about the innovation work happening across the organisation.

This included the 'Transfer of Care Hub' which is said to have 'significantly' cut the number of patients in hospital who no longer require a hospital stay, ensuring patients are home or back in the community as soon as they are fit and well.

The benefit of this, according to the trust, is that it helps to create bed capacity within the hospital for patients who come into the Emergency Department in need of urgent care and require admission to a hospital bed.

Mr Patrick also spoke to the team behind the scenes who are leading on the Transfer of Care Hub and learned how the health and care partners in the area are working together to ensure patients are discharged as soon as they are well.

He said: "Public services are at the heart of the Wirral, so I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with the team at Arrowe Park to hear more about the important work they’re doing.

"There are real challenges facing our NHS and I know that the teams at Arrowe Park are doing all they can to ensure the best outcomes for patients, both in treatment and recovery.

"I look forward to working in partnership with the hospital’s team going forward, as the Government continues its efforts to build an NHS fit for the future."

Janelle Holmes, chief executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, added: "It was great to welcome Matthew to the hospital to see how hard our staff are working to care for patients.

"When patients no longer need hospital care, the best place for them to continue their recovery is at home and we are working with our partners to make sure that happens as quickly as possible."