Patients at Mater Dei will now be able to give feedback about their stay in hospital before they discharged through a new service launched by Health Minister Joe Cassar this afternoon.

Addressing a news conference at the M1 Ward, Dr Cassar said patients would be able to leave their feedback on the patient entertainment system. No card is necessary.

The patients will be invited to answer one of two questionnaires – one for the Maternity Ward, the other for the other wards.

The Maternity Ward questionnaire is difference because of the specific needs of this ward.

The other questionnaire looks into the service and care given by doctors and nurses, cleanliness and hospitality.

The data submitted will go straight to a central system, and although those monitoring the results will know from which ward the feedback came, they will not know from whom.

The feedback will be monitored on a monthly basis.

Dr Cassar said it will give a real time picture of customer satisfaction at Mater Dei while highlighting shortcomings and anything that needed to be improved.

The service cost €2,600 and was developed through the international company Cyberweb Creations.

It will allow for the comparison of Mater Dei with other hospitals within the EU.