Communication and unhelpful staff among concerns highlighted by Rotherham Hospital patient survey

UNHELPFUL staff, lack of information about waiting times and poor transport arrangements were highlighted as problems in a patient survey which ranked Rotherham Hospital’s A&E as below par.
 

 

UNHELPFUL staff, lack of information about waiting times and poor transport arrangements were highlighted as problems in a patient survey which ranked Rotherham Hospital’s A&E as below par.

Although the hospital scored better for safety, privacy and explaining treatment clearly, its overall ranking in the Care Quality Commission poll was worsethan the average across the country.

Chief executive Dr Richard Jenkins said the trust was disappointed with the survey’s results, adding: “We have taken the findings on board and are working to improve patients’ experiences in our department.”

The CQC survey looked at the experiences of patients attending A&E-style departments like Rotherham’s Urgent and Emergency Care Centre across126 health trusts across the country.

It covered hospital visits in September last year and was filled in by 435 Rotherham patients, who were asked to give a score out often in answer to a range of questions.

Each trust was ranked as better, about the same or worse than the average across the country.

Rotherham Hospital’s score for the overall experience — 7.7 out of ten —and was worse than the average benchmark.

Lower scores were given for the times waited to speak to a doctor or nurse (5.1), information on how long waiting times would be (3.7), help from staff while waiting (3.8), talking about anxieties or fears with a doctor or nurse (5.7), access to food and drink (5.4) and transport arrangements (3.2).

However, the Rotherham trust scored well for respect and dignity (8.6), “acknowledging patients” (9), privacy when being examined and treated (9.5), safety (9.4) and medication explanation (9.4).

The CQC said the resultswould assist them in the regulation, monitoring and inspection of NHS trusts.

Its report read: “Survey data will be used to help us assess how trusts are performing and will form a key source of evidence to support the judgements and in-spection ratings published for trusts.

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