Scottish Inpatient Patient Experience Survey 2011 Volume 1: National Results

12 Conclusions

12.1 The national results were similar to last year. Following the publication of the results of the first survey in September 2010 NHS Boards produced action plans to improve the experiences of their patients ^[15]. However the sampling period for this year's survey was from October 2009 to September 2010 so the effects of improvement work will not be picked up until next year's survey at the earliest.

12.2 Overall the findings showed that at a national level the majority of patients reported positive experiences about their hospital stay.

12.3 Patients were slightly more positive about their experiences of the doctors than last year.

12.4 There were improvements in the experiences of inpatients at about half of NHS Boards. However at other NHS Boards the experiences of patients were similar to last year, and at two NHS Boards they were worse.

12.5 The results showed that improvements can still be made even when the percentage of patients reporting a positive experience is already high. For six questions the National Waiting Times Centre, which already had the highest results of any board, improved on their results from last year.

12.6 The experiences of Scottish and English inpatients were similar.

National Results - most positive results

12.7 The areas where patients were most likely to provide positive feedback were similar to last year:

• I understood how and when to take my medicines. (96% responded positively)
• Doctors introduced themselves to me. (96% responded positively)
• Did the information you were given before attending hospital help you understand what would happen? (96% responded positively)
• I had privacy when being examined and treated. (95% responded positively)
• I understood what my medicines were for. (94% responded positively)
• I was treated with care. (92% responded positively)
• The main ward or room I stayed in was clean. (92% responded positively)
• I was treated with respect. (92% responded positively)

National Results - most negative results

12.8 The areas where patients were most likely to provide negative feedback were similar to last year. The statement that most patients responded negatively to was again being told how long that they would have to wait in A&E:

• In the Emergency Department/Accident and Emergency, I was told how long I would have to wait. (32% responded negatively)
• I was not bothered by noise at night. (31% responded negatively)
• I knew who was in charge of the ward. (26% responded negatively)
• I was given help with arranging transport. (24% responded negatively)
• I was happy with the food and drink that I received. (21% responded negatively)
• I was happy with how long I had to wait around when I was told I could go home. (19% responded negatively)
• Any medicines I needed before I could go home were given to me in reasonable time. (18% responded negatively)
• I was told about any danger signals to watch for when I got home. (18% responded negatively)