Publish date: 10 August 2023
Mid Cheshire Hospitals patients praise the Trust’s staff and facilities, as well as feeling that they are treated with dignity and respect.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) undertakes an annual survey of people who use urgent and emergency care services. The results of the 2022 survey were released at the end of July 2023. More than 400 patients of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) took part and responded to the survey.
Overall, the survey gathered the opinions of 29,357 patients across 122 NHS trusts with a major, consultant-led accident and emergency (A&E) department, including Leighton Hospital. An additional 7,418 patient opinions were gathered from 59 of the 122 NHS Trusts with Urgent Treatment and Minor Injury services, including Leighton Hospital and Victoria Infirmary, Northwich. Any patient aged 16 years or older who had visited A&E during September 2022 was eligible to complete the survey.
The Trust scored well on a range of questions assessing the extent to which patients experienced privacy, dignity and respect during their time in A&E.
Of the 9 sections in the survey covering different aspects of care within the A&E department, MCHFT scored one of the highest in the North West of England region for 4 categories - ‘Experience overall’, ‘Respect and Dignity, ‘Environment and Facilities’, and ‘Arrival at A&E’.
Of the 9 sections in the survey covering different aspects of care within the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC), MCHFT scored one of the highest in the North West in two categories – ‘Tests’ and ‘Environment and Facilities’ and the highest in the region for six categories – ‘Arrival at the UTC and MIU’, ‘Waiting’, ‘Health Professionals’, ‘Care and Treatment’, ‘Respect and Dignity’ and ‘Overall experience’.
Scott Malton, Chief Nursing Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, said: “I’d like to thank our patients who have taken the time to tell us about their experiences. Feedback like this is particularly important as it helps us see what we’re doing well and also allows us to focus on how we can improve.
“Our staff continue to work exceptionally hard each and every day to care for our patients who attend our emergency departments and I am delighted to see their efforts recognised in this way."
The full urgent and emergency care survey results can be found here.
The CQC and NHS England use results from the survey to build an understanding of the quality of services available across an area. Listening to patients’ experiences plays a crucial part in delivering services that are safe, effective and continuously improving. Individual trusts can also use the survey to guide and inform their own improvement activities.
