A new system to assess the quality of service within the NHS and share findings with the public will be introduced in Wales this year.

NHS organisations have been asked to produce Annual Quality statements as part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to high quality and safe services underpinned by transparency on performance.

The statements will give patients easy access to a range of information about the services available to them and how well those services perform in a range of areas.

Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said she also expects greater transparency to help drive up performance and quality across the NHS.

Annual Quality statements will outline progress by the organisation in the previous year and demonstrate how they have acted on any areas of concern. It is expected they will be signed off by a ‘patient voice’, for example the local Community Health Council.

NHS organisations will also introduce new ‘quality triggers’ made up of organisational data and feedback from patients. The triggers will enable monitoring and act as an early warning system to pick up signs of services that may give cause for concern and help organisations take action to mitigate risks.

Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said:

"We need to ensure every patient, every day, gets excellent quality care wherever and whenever they receive it.

"We must be able to show clearly that we are doing the right thing, in the right way, in the right place, at the right time and with the right staff.

"The aim of the Annual Quality Statement is to introduce systems for assuring high quality care and to improve health outcomes so Wales can match the best healthcare in the world.

"Several recent achievements have shown us what is possible when we have a relentless focus on improvement.

"We have reduced cases of healthcare infections and bed sores massively and improvements to stroke services have secured 24/7 access to clot-busting drugs in all health board areas.

"A quality-driven, transparent, NHS Wales is essential to ensure the patient experience is first class in terms of safety, dignity of care, and outcome."