TWO of the region's largest NHS hospital trusts have begun asking patients if they are happy with the care they have received.

The Government-backed initiative will allow the public to visit their local hospitals website and look at comments left by other patients and service users.

It is also intended to ensure that problems are quickly brought to the attention of managers.

Launched on April 1, the new Friends and Family Test is the first time gathering continuous patient feedback has been made a statutory requirement within the NHS.

Between them the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust treat more than 1.5m people a year.

Before leaving hospital patients will be asked 'Would you recommend this hospital to your family and friends?'

The test will be conducted by iWantGreatCare, a company which captures ratings from patients and their families.

Weekly and monthly reports based on the responses will be sent to management and frontline healthcare staff. Dr Neil Bacon, founder of iWantGreatCare, said: "The Friends and Family Test is an opportunity for patients from Teesside, Darlington and Durham to ensure that their voices and experience are at the heart of their local heath service."

Feedback collected from the test can be seen by members of the public by visiting south-tees.iwgc.net and countydurham-darlington.iwgc.net.