PRIME Minister Theresa May has joined those paying tribute to Dame Jackie Daniel, the chief executive of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust who is to step down from her position.

Mrs May spoke at Prime Minister's Questions today, after Morecambe and Lunesdale MP David Morris had given his thanks to local NHS staff.

Mr Morris said: "My NHS Trust, Morecambe Bay, has turned around from being one of the worst trusts in the country, and it was safe to say that five years ago, to one of the best. That was because of injections of huge amounts of cash but the staff there were amazing, they turned that hospital around.

"Jackie Daniel received a Damehood for turning around Morecambe Bay Trust, very positive, along with the staff. Would my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister, look forward to working with her successor and carry on turning around Morecambe Bay Trust and wish Jackie well."

In response, Mrs May MP said: "I am happy to join my Hon Friend in paying tribute to the work of the staff at the Morecambe Bay Trust and particularly to wish Dame Jackie well and to recognise and pay tribute to the work she has done turning that trust around.

"It is just another example of the huge gratitude that we owe to our NHS staff who work so tirelessly on our behalf."