Tuesday 19 March 2013

UNISON today backs Patient Opinion website for rating NHS care

19 March 2013

UNISON today endorsed Patient Opinion, a website for rating NHS care.

See the BBC Scotland news report by health correspondent Eleanor Bradford. "A website which allows patients to rate the care they have received on the NHS is being formally supported by the Scottish government.

"Patient Opinion works in the same way as travel review websites, but contributors review the care at hospitals, surgeries and clinics.

"It hopes that by allowing patients to post opinions, services can be opened up to scrutiny and standards driven up.

"Funding has now been awarded for health boards to engage with the service...." (more on BBC site)


More information in the Scottish Government news release, which includes this comment from Tom Waterson, Chair of UNISON Scotland’s Health Committee.

He said: “Unison welcomes the Health Secretary’s move to encourage “real-time” dialogue between health boards, staff and patients.

"Patient stories can make a difference in many ways, both to the quality of care and the morale of hard working NHS staff in their desire to deliver world class care.

“They can be powerful motivational reminders to frontline staff of how they are making a difference to someone’s life and play an important role in educating the healthcare professionals of the future.”


Full details in the SG release, including that:

From today, the service will be available for the following health boards to respond to feedback from patients: NHS Highland, NHS Shetland, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Scottish Ambulance Service, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and National Education Scotland.

The remaining health boards will be asked to adopt the service by the end of the year.


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