FORMER patients of South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust are being asked to share their experiences as part of a health review.

The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) wants to hear from people who have been patients at Darlington Memorial Hospital or Bishop Auckland General Hospital to that it can carry out a clinical governance review.

The assessment will look at management, provision and quality of service and identify best practice and areas for improvement.

The CHI will also talk to trust staff, patient representatives and managers in the NHS.

Individual or small group meetings begin next week and all information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Peter Homa, chief executive of CHI, 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."

The team will be in Darlington Memorial Hospital on Monday; Bishop Auckland General Hospital on Tuesday; and the Richardson Hospital, Barnard Castle on Wednesday.

To take part in the assessment, call 0845 6013012.