The findings of a Saolta conducted survey released today has shown that 82% of patients indicated that they had a ‘good experience’ at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The National Patient Experience Survey aims to highlight positive patient experiences across the Saolta University Health Care Group, showing above average positive findings for the Group as a whole in many areas.
Overall at LUH, patients’ ratings of their experiences at LUH were slightly below the national average.
82% of patients at LUH said they had a ‘very good’ or ‘good’ experience, compared with 84% nationally.
The key positive findings included:
- Many patients reported very positive experiences of their admission to the ED.
- Patients were very positive about the privacy that they were afforded on the ward.
- Patients also reported their examinations and treatment
- Patients reported good experiences of receiving clear explanations of their medicines.
However, areas of improvement identified included the waiting times in the Emergency Department, communications on the ward, and time to discuss treatment and medication.
A Saolta spokesperson says that these findings will serve to inform quality improvement initiatives in LUH.
According to Seán Murphy, General Manager Letterkenny University Hospital: “We are happy with the overall results of the National Patient Experience Survey at Letterkenny University Hospital and look forward to working on areas where our patients felt we needed to improve.
“We are particularly encouraged to note that our patients said that they always felt that they were treated with respect and dignity in our emergency department, with enough privacy while on the ward. We are also encouraged to note that patients reported feeling involved in the decisions about their care and treatment.
“Patients also reported good experiences of receiving clear explanations of their medicines, as well as enough information on how to manage their condition after discharge.
“We have already put improvement plans in place in LUH to address areas of importance for patients as identified by the results of the survey and will focus in particular on those issues relating to the Emergency Department, the discharge process and the communications around diagnosis, treatment and test results. We would like to thank all the patients who took part in the survey and the staff who encouraged and facilitated it.”
Statement from Maurice Power, Group CEO Saolta University Health Care Group: “This Survey has been a very positive experience for the Saolta Group. It has focussed our attention even more on what is important. The patient must be put at the centre of all we do and we look forward as a Group to the implementation of improvements in patient experience over the coming year.
“These results have given a clear insight into the patient’s experiences in our seven hospitals and assists us in understanding what matters to patients. It confirms for us the importance of working in partnership with our patients, their carers, our staff and communities.
“We are committed to responding to and implementing the findings.”
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