PATIENTS’ views are being heard at a number of North East hospitals in a bid to improve standards.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is publishing patients’ views about the care they have received in hospital.

In a groundbreaking move, the Trust is displaying what people think about quality of care in a user-friendly format in its hospitals.

The pilot project has been running on wards at North Tyneside and Wansbeck general hospitals and Blyth Community Hospital with information gathered from patients while they are in hospital so improvements can be made quickly.

Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “We’re asking patients what they think about their care before they leave hospital, so if any improvements can be made we can do them straight away.”

Patients are asked about things such as consistency and co-ordination of care, respect and dignity, their doctor/nurse and cleanliness.

The feedback is given in graph format which is easy to read, and data will be refreshed every three months.