Comparison of the characteristics of the NHS Inpatient Survey and ratings on the NHS Choices website
| NHS Inpatient Survey | NHS Choices ratings | |
| Mechanism | Paper-based survey | Ratings left on a website |
| Number of responses | 69 000 per year | 5000 per year |
| Selection | Random; patients receive a survey requesting completion after leaving hospital | Self-selecting; patients are not solicited |
| Proportion positive | 79% rated their overall care as excellent or very good | 67% would recommend to a friend |
| Cost | Likely more expensive | Likely less expensive |
NHS, National Health Service.