Hospitals are getting dirtier claims patients
Hospital patients say they are waiting less time for emergency treatment and outpatient appointments, according to two major surveys of patient opinion published today by the independent Healthcare Commission.
However, the findings also suggest that further improvements are needed. In particular, patients want greater information from clinicians on treatment and higher standards of cleanliness in hospitals.
The Healthcare Commission has carried out two surveys in which 140,000 patients gave their perception of local outpatient clinics and emergency departments.
The surveys, representing one of the biggest national tests of patient attitudes, will be closely watched as they provide an indicator of whether patients believe that services are really improving. Findings from these patient surveys will be used by the Healthcare Commission in future inspections and in the formulation of the trust’s star ratings in 2005. Where there are areas for concern, the Commission will review the issue in detail with the individual trust.
The key findings are as follows:
Patients are broadly positive about their experience, but areas for improvement indicated by patients included:
* 45% of patients rated the emergency department as ‘very clean’, a four percent decrease from 2003
* 53% of outpatients rated the outpatients department as ‘very clean’, a 6% decrease from 2003
* Patient involvement was found to be a key issue for patients visiting both emergency and outpatients departments:
- 20% of outpatients felt they were not getting the right amount of information for them to be fully involved in their care
- particularly concerning was the finding that only 49% of patients leaving A&E were given any information regarding possible side effects of new medication
- A new question was added to the 2004 outpatients survey, regarding patient choice and 70% of patients reported that they were not given a choice of appointment times. However, out of these only 23% expressed a desire to have that choice.
Anna Walker, chief executive of the Healthcare Commission said: “This survey is very encouraging, and it is particularly good to see patients are beginning to experience a reduction in waiting times. People who are sceptical of the NHS should take note of what patients are actually saying, as it is clear how much they value the services on offer.”
“There is much to celebrate but patients still, and rightly so, expect further improvement in their health service. Patients are sending a very clear message that they want more involvement in decisions on their treatment and that current standards of cleanliness are still not good enough. That must improve.”
However, the findings also suggest that further improvements are needed. In particular, patients want greater information from clinicians on treatment and higher standards of cleanliness in hospitals.
The Healthcare Commission has carried out two surveys in which 140,000 patients gave their perception of local outpatient clinics and emergency departments.
The surveys, representing one of the biggest national tests of patient attitudes, will be closely watched as they provide an indicator of whether patients believe that services are really improving. Findings from these patient surveys will be used by the Healthcare Commission in future inspections and in the formulation of the trust’s star ratings in 2005. Where there are areas for concern, the Commission will review the issue in detail with the individual trust.
The key findings are as follows:
Patients are broadly positive about their experience, but areas for improvement indicated by patients included:
* 45% of patients rated the emergency department as ‘very clean’, a four percent decrease from 2003
* 53% of outpatients rated the outpatients department as ‘very clean’, a 6% decrease from 2003
* Patient involvement was found to be a key issue for patients visiting both emergency and outpatients departments:
- 20% of outpatients felt they were not getting the right amount of information for them to be fully involved in their care
- particularly concerning was the finding that only 49% of patients leaving A&E were given any information regarding possible side effects of new medication
- A new question was added to the 2004 outpatients survey, regarding patient choice and 70% of patients reported that they were not given a choice of appointment times. However, out of these only 23% expressed a desire to have that choice.
Anna Walker, chief executive of the Healthcare Commission said: “This survey is very encouraging, and it is particularly good to see patients are beginning to experience a reduction in waiting times. People who are sceptical of the NHS should take note of what patients are actually saying, as it is clear how much they value the services on offer.”
“There is much to celebrate but patients still, and rightly so, expect further improvement in their health service. Patients are sending a very clear message that they want more involvement in decisions on their treatment and that current standards of cleanliness are still not good enough. That must improve.”
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PressReleaseDetail/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4014870&chk=/UqDJJ
posted by Dr Search- Principal Consultant at the Search Clinic at
9:48 AM
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