Patients to share opinions with a click of the mouse at Prince of Wales Hospital

Prince of Wales Hospital has joined the Patient Opinion Australia website www.patientopinion.org.au to allow patients and members of the public to share their experiences of the hospital site.

Patient Opinion is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to help improve healthcare systems by providing a platform to enable open and transparent dialogue between consumers and health care providers.

Tobi Wilson, Prince of Wales Hospital General Manager, said Patient Opinion aims to provide a platform carrying the voices of patients and carers into the heart of the health system, in ways which make a real difference to services and by encouraging a culture of responsiveness.

“It also promotes connecting and building better relationships with those that use the health system, resolving their issues, and reducing formal complaints,” Mr Wilson said.

“It does this by providing a website where consumers can publish their experiences of their health service. The website allows the health service to interact with these patients and consumers to help improve care.”

Patient Opinion moderates the feedback story in order to ensure that identity of any staff member is not revealed. The organisation is then alerted to the patient’s story and then can publish their response. Any changes made as a result of the feedback can also be posted on the website for all consumers to view.

The website is one avenue South Eastern Sydney Local Health District supports the objective of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards – Standard 2: Partnering with consumers, which is to create a health service that is responsive to patient, carer and consumer input and needs.

Patient Opinion is also available at Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital and Sutherland Hospital for patients and members of the public.