The Department of Health has launched a web tool that will allow patients to rate and compare hospitals as if they were on an internet comparison site.

The hospital “scorecard” on the NHS Choices website will enable patients to read reviews on mortality rates, infection rates (including rates for meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile), cleanliness, staff performance, quality of food, the extent to which patients were involved in decisions concerning their care and whether they would recommend the hospital to friends and …