NHS launches hospital comparison web site

Car parking, waiting times and mortality rates comparable online

Hospitals can now be compared online

Patients can now rate and compare hospitals online after health secretary Andy Burnham launched a new tool to give patients better information to choose services within the NHS.

The scorecard, available on the NHS web site will work in a similar way to internet price comparison web sites and will rate different facets of a hospital such as car parking, waiting times and mortality rates.

Burnham said patients need to have more choice in the NHS.

“Going into hospital is one of the most important moments in anyone’s life. And yet we don’t equip patients with anything like enough information to make informed decisions," he said.

“The service also offers an unparalleled opportunity for hospitals to be made aware of any issues and act to improve their services, helping to drive up standards across the board, and become more patient focused.“

Other factors rated on the site will be infection rates, cleanliness, staff performance, quality of food, and involvement of patients in healthcare decisions.

Every hospital in England is also being asked to encourage patients to leave feedback on the NHS web site.

Stephen Ramsden, chief executive of Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust had been working closely with frontline staff to raise awareness of the site.

"We want to make sure that our patients are aware that they can leave feedback about their experience on NHS Choices to help us to continue to improve our services, and also to praise the hospital where it is due," he said.

Later this year, a similar service is being launched to allow patients to rate and compare GP practices.