A TRIP Advisor-style online review tool for Oxfordshire’s health and social care services has been launched.
Health watchdog Healthwatch Oxfordshire unveiled its new Feedback Centre on its website on Tuesday in the hope of improving patient engagement with the health services.
Healthwatch said the feedback tool would be used to harvest views of those using the county’s health and social care system in order to recognise services which are providing quality care, as well as prompt improvements in those that aren’t.
The new online Feedback Centre is now accessible on mobile phones, desktop PCs and tablets, simply by going to the Healthwatch Oxfordshire website.
Executive director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, Rosalind Pearce, said: “We have much to be proud of in the health and social care services that people in Oxfordshire use every day, but sometimes things go wrong and need improving.
“The views of people who use the services must be heard to help get things right.”
Healthwatch is hoping to harness the online habit of leaving user reviews such as is common place in the travel and food industries.
After receiving care or treatment, patients or their families can simply visit the Healthwatch Oxfordshire website, search for the provider and leave a review.
All reviews are vetted before appearing online to ensure an honest representation of each service provider is given.
The independent local watchdog hopes to work with health and social care providers, who will be able to view and comment on their own reviews, to create an open and honest online forum while improving transparency.
It is hoped providers will also signpost patients to the service.
Ms Pearce added: “As an independent organisation, Healthwatch Oxfordshire believes we have the trust of the public to tell us their full experiences of local services: the excellent and the good, as well as where things need to improve.
“Healthwatch Oxfordshire’s aim is to make sure that those voices come through loud and clear to the professionals who make decisions within our local services.”
The feedback tool will also help determine which services Healthwatch Oxfordshire chooses to inspect as part of its ‘Enter and View’ powers.
Patient experiences will continue to be collected via more traditional methods such as telephone and public engagement events.
Healthwatch Oxfordshire chairman professor George Smith said: “It’s about empowering 670,000 people by allowing them to have their say.
“Through this feedback tool we can offer them the opportunity to make a real difference.”
Article originally appeared on Oxford Mail
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