Patients to be asked to rate their doctors
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.People are to be routinely asked to rate the quality of treatment they receive from their family doctor under an initiative to drive up care standards across the National Health Service.
A new "friends and family" test in which patients and staff are asked whether they would recommend the service to a loved-one is being launched in hospitals in April.
But David Cameron last night announced he wants the scheme to be extended across the health service, including GPs, district nursing and community hospitals.
His move follows a public inquiry into failings that led to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of patients at Mid-Staffordshire Hospitals over four years. An inquest also heard last year that a patient who died from dehydration at St George's Hospital, south London, was so desperate for water he dialled 999 for help. Ministers hope that publishing the "friends and family" results will help to identify the best and worst performers in patients' eyes. The assessments are set to be extended to include family doctors by 2015, raising the prospect of league tables.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments