PATIENTS who have attended the accident and emergency departments of three hospitals are to be quizzed about the service they received.

Anyone treated in either of the North Tees and Hartlepool Trust's accident and emergency departments in June or who attended the trust's outpatients clinics in July could be asked for their views, with 850 accident and emergency patients and 850 outpatients to be consulted.

The issues will include waiting times, staff communication, information available and the quality of treatment.

The questionnaires are anonymous and will be used to improve services.

The questionnaires for outpatients are being sent out this week, while the questionnaires for accident and emergency patients were distributed a couple of weeks ago.

Aidan Mullan, of the trust, said: "The more patients who let us know their views the better."