The Morecambe Bay NHS Trust has apologised after discharging an elderly woman from the Royal Lancaster Infirmary in the middle of the night.
South Lakes MP Tim Farron highlighted the case of the 83-year old woman - he says she was in poor health and was "dumped" on her doorstep by a taxi driver at 2.20 in the morning.
A neighbour had to help her get in as her family hadn't been told and no care arrangements were made.
UHMBT says it's investigating the case.
Mary Aubrey, Director of Governance, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are concerned to hear that there have been concerns raised about the discharge of a patient from the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. We are sincerely sorry for any distress caused and we are in contact with the patient regarding her discharge from hospital.
“As a Trust, we are committed to providing high quality and responsive care and services for all our patients; we take all concerns very seriously. I would like to reassure the public that all patients are assessed on a case by case basis to ensure they are medically fit before they are discharged.
“We are investigating this case so we can understand what happened and if there is anything we can learn from it to ensure that patients receive the highest level of care. We will continue to keep the patient updated directly.”
Mr. Farron - the Lib Dem leader - has called for NHS England to do an inquiry into hospital discharge procedures: “It is utterly unacceptable that cases like this keep on happening. The safety of vulnerable and elderly patients is being put at risk as patients continue to be discharged without their family being informed, only to be left outside their houses in the middle of the night.
“I am calling for NHS England to undertake an inquiry into hospital discharge procedures, because I am concerned that this is happening across the country. Discharge procedures at hospitals urgently need to change so that patient safety is not put at risk.
“This case also highlights the urgent need for a more integrated approach to health and social care, as the Lib Dems have continually pushed for.”