Actor Tim Welton in the chair with dental hygienist Jacqui Taylor at Kentley Dental Practice, in Haxby Road, York

A pioneering project to improve care for patients in York District Hospital has been launched by health bosses.

The views of the patients themselves will be sought as part of the exercise to make their experience of their stay on the hospital's acute wards a better and happier one.

The programme is being led by Mike Proctor, director of nursing, who will be working with staff at all levels throughout the health trust to push through the changes.

The project will focus on three separate, but linked, elements - the role of the ward manager; the development of standards; and a request for feedback from patients and the response to issues raised by them.

Mr Proctor said: "The foundation for a successful programme of change is effective ward managers, who clearly understand their role and are supported by the trust in their efforts to improve the care of patients."

He is working with ward managers and other staff to develop a clear, written description of the role of ward managers, and once that has been clearly set out they will be helped to meet the demands of their newly-defined role.

The programme of change will include introducing clear standards for good quality patient care in the areas of clinical care, communication and attitude and the ward environment.

Mr Proctor, who is investigating how other health trusts approach the issue and plans to get staff at all levels involved in developing standards, said: "We need to be clear about the standards we expect, so any shortfalls can be readily identified and action taken."

The trust already asks for patients' views in a number of ways, including post-discharge questionnaires and comment cards, as well as complaints when things go wrong.

"I believe we need a framework for patients to be invited back to the trust to tell an independent person what they think of us," said Mr Proctor. A formal review of the current feedback system is planned.

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