PEOPLE in North Durham are being urged to give assessors their views on the area's hospitals.

The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) is running the rule over the North Durham Health Care Trust, which runs the University Hospital of North Durham in Durham and units at Shotley Bridge, South Moor and Chester-le-Street.

As part of the assessment, called a clinical governance review, the CHI wants to talk to local people to find out what they think about the trust's services.

The CHI's assessment team will spend 24 weeks building up a picture of what the trust is doing to ensure high quality care for its patients and where it might improve services.

At the end of the review it will publish a report outlining what action the trust needs to take.

CHI chief executive Peter Homa said: "These assessments are intended to celebrate success, address shortcomings and share good practice.

"We expect a great deal of learning to emerge from the experience and want as many people as possible to contribute their views.

"Our aim is to conduct the assessments in a supportive and inclusive manner.

"That way we should all be working towards the common purpose of improving the patients' experience and providing the best possible standards of care."

The CHI will also talk to trust staff, other people who care for patients, patient representatives, managers and other NHS employees.

All the information given will be treated anonymously and in the strictest confidence.

Individual or small group meetings will be held in Durham on Monday, January 21, in Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, January 22 and in Consett on Wednesday, January 23.

People can also give their opinions by phone, in writing or by email.

To arrange a confidential appointment, or for more information, call the CHI on (0845) 601 3012.