DORSET residents are being given a chance to have their say about community and mental health services ahead of a major inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

England's Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, says their views will help his team decide what to look at when they inspect the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust later this month.

He said: "The new 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.

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

"Of course we will be talking to doctors and nurses, hospital managers and patients in the hospital. But it is vital that we also hear the views of the people who have had care at any of the hospitals run by the trust, or anyone else 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 me and my team what you think, and make a difference to NHS services in the local area.”

The Chief Inspector announced in late 2013 that he will lead significantly larger inspection teams than before, headed up by clinical and other experts including trained members of the public.

There will be five listening events including:

• Thursday 18 June, 7:00pm - Training Room – Ground floor, Sentinel House Trust HQ 4-6 Nuffield Road, Poole, Dorset, BH17 0RB

• Monday 22 June, 6:30pm - Garden Room, Blandford Hospital, Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7DD

• Monday 22 June, 6:30pm - Meeting Room, Canford Health Clinic, Culliford Crescent, Canford Heath, Dorset, BH17 9DW

Anyone who is unable to attend the listening event but wishes to give their views to the inspection team can do this by:

• Visiting: cqc.org.uk/syehulleastyorks

• Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk

• By letter: CQC, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PABy phone: 03000 61 61 61

A full report of the inspectors’ findings will be published by the Care Quality Commission later in the year.