New patient experience website ‘could save money for the health service’

The operators of a new website in which patients can post stories about their experiences of the Irish health service have said they hope Health Minister Leo Varadkar will look at incorporating the model into the health system.

The site, patientopinion.ie, is based on a model already in use in Britain and elsewhere, and in its first five weeks has received 27 detailed stories. Described as operating in a way similar to holiday review website TripAdvisor, the stories are posted anonymously while the health facilities are named, although posts can be moderated to avoid the identification of any medical personnel.

The Irish Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare is operating the site and one of the people involved, Hilary Dunne, said the majority of stories posted so far highlighted areas of good practice.