HOSPITAL bosses must be more accountable to patients according to the health secretary.

Alex Neil said he wants to see the names, pictures and telephone numbers of hospital directors, head of nursing and head clinicians at the entrance to hospitals, so patients and visitors know exactly who to contact.

Mr Neil said it will improve accountability and services.

He was speaking at the Scottish Parliament Health Committee on improvement plans at NHS Lanarkshire, following his ordering of a rapid review of its death rates which were above average.

Mr Neil said: "I want to see signs with: 'I am the director for Monklands Hospital and here's how to contact me,' and the same for the head of nursing and the head clinician, on the site when we walk in the door.

"I want to see that across all 38 acute hospitals in Scotland.

"I think it would see a marked improvement. People need to know who to phone - they need names and a face."

Mr Neil said he was sure Lanarkshire should retain three acute hospitals, Monklands, Hairmyres and Wishaw, but said there could be a case for greater concentration of specialisms in one or two of the sites.

He said: "I've not seen any evidence that tells me NHS Lanarkshire has been adversely affected by having three acute hospitals and three accident and emergency units.

"Where are we going to put the capacity of the hospital you close down?

"It is difficult to see how we could do that.

"There are some services currently carried out on two or three sites that there is some evidence they should be on one or two.

"If medical evidence shows the need to focus some services on fewer sites, I need to take that seriously."