Get patients’ feedback . . .

. . . too many won’t tell you

By Robin Stride

The assessment of patient satisfaction with their private doctors, hospitals and clinics needs a re-think following new Care Quality Commission (CQC) research showing a widespread reluctance of people to complain.

Independent practitioners are being urged to do more to encourage patients to give their frank views in a bid to improve services

Its study of NHS and private patients found nearly 7m people in England who accessed health or social care services in the last five years had concerns about their care but never raised them. 

Independent practitioners are now being urged by the pressure group the Private Patients’ Forum (PPF) to do more to encourage people to give feedback, good or bad.

With 58% expressing regret about not complaining, the CQC has also launched a ‘Declare Your Care’ campaign encouraging people to share their experiences with the watchdog to inform future inspections.