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An independent website has been launched to help people see what others say about local hospitals.
People are encouraged to log their experience as a patient at www.patientopinion.org.uk
The non-profit venture was set up by a Yorkshire GP, Dr Paul Hodgkin. It is funded by subscriptions from healthcare organisations such as primary care and hospital trusts.
Dr Hodgkin said: “We want to help patients make informed choices. We want all opinions so that we can acknowledge good care and encourage hospitals and trusts to acknowledge issues and work to rectify them.”
The website has now been tested in parts of the country over the past 20 months and is going nationwide. All views are moderated to ensure legality where necessary.
Bosses of Leicester’s hospitals said they welcomed gathering patient views but said they would prefer it if people contacted them instead. “Because of the way that the website is set up, it is very difficult to follow up any concerns,” a spokeswoman for Leicester University Hospitals has said.
She also encouraged patients to speak to staff or ring a complaints line.
