Staff will be asked about mistakes

Independent watchdog the Commission for Health Improvement will ask staff about working conditions and the quality of services to patients.

Its successor, the Commission for Health Audit and Inspection, will use the answers to rate trusts next year.

Only those with top ratings can apply for foundation hospital status.

A random sample of around 380,000 staff from all trusts will be asked about any mistakes that have happened in their areas, how they are managed and whether or not they feel motivated.

The first nationwide NHS survey, the postal questionnaire will replace annual staff studies conducted by individual trusts and the CHI clinical governance review surveys.

We want staff to tell us about the health of the NHS Commission for Health Improvement acting chief executive Jocelyn Cornwell

The CHI said it would allow trusts to compare themselves for the first time.

Acting chief executive Jocelyn Cornwell added: "We want staff to tell us about the health of the NHS.

"Information about staffing and staff morale is critically important to good quality healthcare.

"And healthy organisations are more successful in recruiting and keeping staff."

Trusts will also be able to add their own questions to those set by the CHI.