Patients will soon be able to rate their time in hospital.
From July, they will be surveyed on their experience and the results will be published, Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew said.
Patients would be asked 20 questions and boards would be given a rating out of 10 in four areas: co-ordination, partnership, communication, and physical and emotional needs.
Results would not affect health board funding.
Mrs Goodhew said a response rate of about 40% was expected.
Asked what would happen if serious patient safety concerns were raised, Mrs Goodhew said boards already had systems to handle complaints.
''However, the new system provides another source for this sort of information, and also allows patients to request DHBs contact them about the feedback they've given.
''The DHBs have the responsibility to do this locally. Local follow-up and addressing of issues is the key to good-quality healthcare.''
Results from the first survey will be published in October.
