HEALTHCARE provided by the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will come under scrutiny later this month when the Care Quality Commission carries out a comprehensive inspection.

Ahead of the visits to the hospitals in Swindon and Wiltshire the chief inspector of hospitals is calling on residents to share their experiences of the care they have received from the hospitals.

Their views and experiences will help inspectors decide what to look at when they visit the trust's five hospitals and community services, with the formal inspection due to start at the end of this month.

During the week, a team of inspectors will visit Great Western Hospital, Swindon, Chippenham Community Hospital, Savernake Hospital, Trowbridge Community Hospital, Warminster Community Hospital and see services provided in the community.

The chief inspector, Professor Sir Mike Richards, is leading large inspection teams including clinical and other experts, along with specialist inspectors and experts by experience, to inspect all of England's acute hospitals.

CQC is working closely with Healthwatch Swindon and Healthwatch Wiltshire to ensure the views of patients and the local community are properly heard.

Sir Mike said: "Our inspections are designed to provide people with a clear picture of the quality of the services in their local hospitals, exposing poor or mediocre care as well as highlighting the many hospitals providing good and excellent care.

"We know there is too much variation in quality – these in-depth inspections allow us to get a much more detailed picture of care in hospitals and community services than ever before.

"Of course we will be talking to doctors and nurses, managers and patients in Great Western Hospital. But it is vital that we also hear the views of the people who have experienced the care provided by the trust over the course of the last year or so, or anyone who wants to share information with us.

“This will help us plan our inspections, and so help us focus on the things that really matter to people who depend on this service. This is your opportunity to tell my team what you think, and make a difference to the NHS services in Swindon and Wiltshire.”

Sir Mike's inspection team is expected to look in detail at eight key service areas: A&E; medical care -including frail elderly; surgery; intensive/critical care; maternity; paediatrics/children’s care; end of life care; and outpatients.

Inspectors will also look at community services for children and adults.

A full report of the inspectors’ findings will be published by the CQC later in the year. The trust will be given one of the following ratings: Outstanding, Good, Requiring improvement, Inadequate.

Meanwhile, Healthwatch will be holding a listening event at Marlborough Town Hall starting at 6pm on Thursday, September 24 where people will be able to meet the inspectors.

Those who would like to share their views can contact the CQC on 03000 616161, by email enquiries@cqc.org.uk at their website www.cqc.org.uk/contact-us or by sending a letter to CQC, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PA.