Mixed Bag for Midlands Trusts From Patient Survey

A Midland hospital has topped a Healthcare Commission survey into patient care, it was revealed yesterday.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital Trust in Oswestry, Shropshire, scored more than 91 per cent in the patients’ poll on how they rated a hospital’s overall care. Ealing Hospital NHS Trust in London received the lowest score of 65.06 per cent.

More than 75,000 adults at 165 hospital trusts completed a questionnaire which addressed issues including cleanliness, dignity, waits for admission and hospital food.

Standards clearly varied across the region’s other 15 acute trusts.

A second specialist centre, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Northfield, Birmingham, scored 86.58 per cent, with Birmingham Women’s Healthcare Trust achieving 83.23 and University Hospital Birmingham, which runs the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak hospitals, receiving 79.2.

The three lowest Midlands scores were given to George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire (71.53 per cent), Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust (70.89 per cent) and Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals, which received 70.71 per cent.

Vicky Morris, director of nursing at the Oswestry trust, said: “This survey is a very positive endorsement of the high quality of service and care provided to patients at the Orthopaedic Hospital. Our reputation in the areas of strong clinical team approach, treating patients with respect and in the quality of food, are areas in which we continue to demonstrate the highest quality”.

Wendy Farrington Chadd, the trust’s chief executive, added: “I am delighted we have scored so highly in terms of patient feedback through the national survey. This survey reflects the high standards we continue to maintain at the RJAH and is a credit to our staff; our doctors, nurses, cleaning, catering and support staff who work as a team”.

Nationally, the results of the Healthcare Commission survey revealed those patients rating care “excellent” went up from 41 per cent in 2006 to 42 per cent last year.

The poll also found the number of patients reporting their hospital was “very clean” fell from 56 per cent in 2002 to 53 in 2007, and has not improved.

Health Minister Ann Keen said: “This survey gives a real insight into what patients think about their care, with many reporting high levels of trust in NHS staff, high standards of care and high rates of cleanliness during their stay in hospital.

“These results show that the high standard and quality of care patients can expect is being maintained across the NHS, but we are not complacent.”

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