Tameside Hospital: 'Urgent steps' needed at hospital under probe 4 July 2013 Last updated at 10:50 The government must take urgent action to improve care at a Greater Manchester hospital being probed for high death rates, said a patients' association. Two senior bosses at Tameside Hospital resigned on Wednesday after it emerged two independent reviews criticised the hospital for poor patient care. The Patients Association's Dr Mike Smith said "urgent steps to up the ante" at the hospital were needed. Up the ante Dr Smith claimed the association received a number of complaints in recent weeks about the hospital including one from a consultant who works there. He wrote to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Care Quality Commission with concerns on 14 June but is yet to receive replies. He said: "Jeremy Hunt now needs to take pretty urgent steps to up the ante and see a proper quality of care is provided for the people of Manchester covered by this particular hospital. It would be good from our point of view - as the voice of the patients of the nation - to know that that is something that can happen. He said concerns included the standards of nursing care for the elderly in particular "being way, way below what it should be," "increasing waits" and "services just not fit for purpose." Dr Smith added: "It is now time severe action was taken." Two reviews, seen by the Guardian newspaper, found problems in the hospital's A&E and medical assessment units. The news of the reports was followed by the announcement of the resignation of Christine Green, chief executive of Tameside Hospital Trust, and Medical Director Tariq Mahmood. Take failings seriously Ms Green, who has been chief executive since 1988, said she decided to resign last week after finalising plans for a "listening exercise" to hear what local people and groups such as GPs thought of the hospital.