Patients report high levels of confidence in those caring for them
According to the latest independent survey the majority of patients treated at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust feel they have been treated with dignity and respect and given emotional support during their episode of care. They also report high levels of confidence in those caring for them.
The Trust improved its score from the last inpatient survey in 2012 in 39 areas, also scoring higher than the national average for Trusts surveyed by Quality Health in 19 questions. Areas of marked improvement include:
- Patients were admitted as soon they felt necessary
- The level of noise at night by other patients has improved
- Patients received assistance at mealtimes when required
- Information was provided to families or someone close to patients in order to care for them
- Hospital staff talked to patients about additional equipment or adaptions needed for their return home
- Information about what medication side effects to look for once home is shared with patients
- Patients felt there were enough nurses on duty to care them whilst in hospital
- Staff provided enough emotional support
- Patients were involved in decisions about their discharge from hospital
- More patients were asked to give their views on the quality of care provided
Director of Nursing Greg Dix said: “Patient feedback is crucial to improve our services and it helps us to understand what we are doing well and what we need to change. Overall the majority of results have improved or maintained progress on previous years. We accept there is still further work to do to improve communication and information provision for our patients and their families.
"We will continue to develop Trust engagement with patients and members of the public and work to enhance our existing real-time feedback programme so each ward understand what their patients feel about the care they have received and what areas they need to improve on.”
The survey, commissioned by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was sent to a sample of 850 inpatients that had been discharged by the Trust.
There was a 52% response rate, which is above the overall average of 49%. For further information please visit www.cqc.org.uk
