THE UK'S first 'trip advisor' for healthcare has gone live across Cumbria allowing patients to comment on and rate their NHS experiences.

A website has been launched allowing people to give feedback on both GP and hospital services in the form of star ratings and reviews.

It will be posted online for anyone to see - similar to internationally-used travel review website, TripAdvisor.

"All good doctors listen to their patients," said Grange GP, Hugh Reeve, who chairs the Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

"This system provides an independent and transparent source of information.

"That helps us improve services in real time and ensure patients have the best possible experience, regardless of where they are seen or treated in the Cumbrian health service."

The website was launched after being commissioned by the CCG.

However, it has been running at Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal, and Furness General, Barrow, for the past six months, to great acclaim from both staff and patients.

"The feedback we have had has been amazing," said Kelly Little, patient engagement lead for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust.

"It has boosted staff morale as most people are really kind and grateful for the service they receive. That’s positive feedback we might never have seen without this system.

"But it also provides very useful suggestions for improvements and where things might have gone a bit wrong.

"We can act on that information very quickly and make sure the care we give is as good as we can make it."

A spokesman for the CCG explained patient feedback is fast becoming a 'key measure' of quality in health services, and patients of all ages will be able to leave their comments.

The website is now live at http://cumbriapatients.iwgc.net