People are invited to air their views about local health services when an important inspection is made of Hinchingbrooke Healthcare Trust.

England’s chief inspector of hospitals is inviting members of the public to share their views and experiences to help gain an insight into the service.

The trust is being re-visited following a comprehensive inspection almost a year ago and is being done to review improvements made.

To ensure the views of the local community are properly heard, inspectors will be at a listening event on Tuesday October 20 at Hinchingbrooke House in Brampton Road, Huntingdon, the same day that the formal inspection begins.

Chief inspector, professor Sir Mike Richards is leading larger inspection teams than before, headed up by clinical and other experts, including trained members of the public.

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

“Of course we will be talking to doctors and nurses, hospital managers and patients at the trust. But it is vital that we also hear the views of the people who have received care at the trust, or anyone who wants to share information with us. This will help us plan our inspection, and so help us focus on the things that really matter to people who depend on this service.

“This is your opportunity to tell the team what you think, and make a difference to the NHS services in the local area.”

People are being encouraged to attend the listening events to tell the team about their experiences of care from the past year and to say where they would like to see improvements made in the future as well as find out more about the inspection.

Sir Mike’s inspection team will look at four of the eight key service areas: A&E, medical care (including frail elderly) surgery and end of life care. These services are currently rated as requiring improvement.

A full report will be published by the Care Quality Commission.

Anyone who is unable to attend the listening event but wants to give their views can do by completing a Share Your Experience form online http://www.cqc.org.uk/share-your-experience-finder or emailing: enquiries@cqc.org.uk.

By letter to CQC, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PA or by phone 03000 61 61 61.