Witham MP Priti Patel expects standards to improve at Colchester General Hospital after it was placed in special measures.

The move was announced by health watchdog Monitor this morning after last week's accusations that staff had manipulated cancer patients' records.

Monitor ruled the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust had breached its licence in relation to cancer care services following a report published by the Care Quality Commission.

Ms Patel said: “I welcome the appointment of an improvement director to help the Trust turn itself around and the placing of the Trust into special measures.

"This announcement was always likely following the CQC report and I expect standards to get better with these changes taking effect.

“Many of my constituents rely on Colchester General Hospital and will be concerned about the Trust’s performance and recent developments.

"Services must start to improve and patients must be put first.”