Care Opinion Launches New Website

Care Opinion, an independent site where stories about care experiences are shared anonymously, has recently launched with Multicap, Cerebral palsy Qld and Health Options Australia.
Care Opinion covers care and support services in Australia, giving service users, their families and carers the opportunity to publish their personal experiences, good or bad, of the care system. It is part of  Patient Opinion which covers health services.
“What makes us different from other websites is that we send the feedback directly to the service staff, saving them time, whilst connecting them to the storyteller (anonymously). The care service can then respond directly and rapidly. It’s all about either thanking the service or helping them to improve what they do,” says Assoc. Professor Michael Greco, Chief Executive.
Providing feedback to care services has traditionally gone down a complaints channel.  This can be a deterrent to care services and their clients.
Other social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are great for social conversations, however they are not geared to promote safe and constructive conversations in care services, and such platforms are not easy for care staff to readily access. By writing on Care Opinion (www.careopinion.org.au) the public encourages the care services that they rely on to become more responsive and client- centred.
What makes Care Opinion unique is that it is not-for-profit, and all stories are moderated before going live on the website, thus making it safe for the public and care facilities.
Prof. Greco says, “It also gives the Australian public access to every story that is written, so that they can explore what people are saying about their care services. And by being public, it means that government, funders and regulators of care services can also see what the public is saying.”
Free widgets are available to consumer groups that are representing care services.