Patients praise compassionate and personalised care at Royal Berkshire
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has released its annual Inpatient Survey results, with patients highlighting the high standards of care they received at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Based on responses from patients 87% rated their overall experience of care as seven out of 10 or higher, while 94% said they were treated with dignity and respect during their stay.
The annual national survey asks patients about all aspects of their hospital experience, from communication with staff and involvement in decisions about their care, to food, discharge arrangements and support for families and carers.
Building on the results from previous years, patients reported positive experiences of being treated with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect, while several new questions highlighted the Trust's commitment to personalised care, for example meeting patients' language, accessibility, and dietary needs – all areas where it performed well above the national average.
Other areas of particular strength included:
· Improvements in waiting times for admission to wards
· Doctors involving patients in conversations about their care
· And patients knowing who to contact if they had concerns after leaving hospital.
The survey also highlighted the support provided to families and carers, with 81% of respondents saying their family members or carers were given the information they needed before they left hospital to continue caring for them at home.
While the results highlight many areas of excellent care, the survey also identified opportunities to further improve patients' experience. One area the Trust remains committed to improving is helping patients get a better night's sleep while in hospital, which while above the national average at 46% is something the Trust is continuing to build on with its 'Shh, Sleep Helps Health' programme. Which is focussed on reducing overnight noise on wards, encouraging quieter working practices and providing sleep packs to help patients rest more comfortably.
Katie Prichard-Thomas, Chief Nursing Officer, said: "I'm incredibly proud of colleagues across the Trust. These results reflect the care, compassion and professionalism our teams show every day for patients and their families.
"It's particularly encouraging to see patients recognising the dignity and respect they are shown, the personalised care they receive, and the support provided to their families and carers.
"Patient feedback helps us understand both what we are doing well and where we can improve. While there is much to celebrate in these results, we know there is more we can do to improve patients' experience, and I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to share their experiences with us, and every member of staff whose commitment and compassion have contributed to these results."