Patient Opinion now Looking Local

Patient Opinion has formed a partnership with Looking Local to allow people to use its feedback service even if they do not have internet access.

Traditionally, Patient Opinion has used its website to allow users to provide feedback on local health services and then routed their stories to people within the NHS who can make improvements.

Now, the organisation has joined with Looking Local, a portal for accessing public services, to allow the 10m UK adults that do not have internet access to share their health experiences via digital interactive TV and mobile phones.

Dr Paul Hodgkin, chief executive of Patient Opinion and practicing GP commented: "Patient Opinion has always been about helping as many people as possible to bring improvements to their local NHS services.

“We are delighted that we are now able to bring patient feedback to more people than ever before.

"It is so important for local people to have a voice and bring about change to local services. This is at the crux of the coalition’s Big Society, and is an exciting opportunity for all.”

The service, which will be launched in Sefton will eventually be rolled out nationally. It could potentially reach 17m smartphone users and 55% of homeowners via digital TV.

David Hammond, engagement officer at NHS Sefton, said: “The partnership between Patient Opinion and Looking Local is great news for NHS Sefton.

“Our services on digital TV are already reaching people in the community who otherwise have no electronic access, and this will simply allow them to be part of the wider health debate.”

Links: Patient Opinion | Looking Local

Paul Hodgkin, chief executive of Patient Opinion, will be speaking on ‘radical transparency’ and what it will mean for the NHS in the ‘big picture’ stream of EHI Live 2010.

Online registration for the event, which will be held at the NEC in Birmingham from 8-9 November, is now open.