New partnership puts patients at the heart of mental health services
A new partnership that enables patients to comment on mental health services online was launched today by Care Services Minister Phil Hope.
The partnership, between NHS Choices and Patient Opinion, means service users, carers and their families can share stories and leave feedback on the care they have received via www.nhs.uk and www.patientopinion.org.uk
Once a comment has been posted, staff at the relevant trust will be notified and have the opportunity to respond to the feedback and take any necessary action, helping to drive up standards in mental health services.
Paul Hodgkin, Chief Executive of Patient Opinion, said the new partnership with NHS Choices will mean that more people than ever will be able to help trusts provide the services that users really want. As all the responses from trusts are public, it will ensure greater accountability and give service users an even stronger voice.
"We are delighted NHS Choices asked us to team up with them. This partnership means that more service users can help improve the services they have to use while Trusts can demonstrate that they really do listen to service users."
"The simple fact is that the more mental health services listen and act on these stories, the better care will be."
Download a Patient Opinion case study from 5 Boroughs Trust
http://www.patientopinion.org.uk/resources/5-Boroughs-case-study.pdf