Publish date: 21 August 2024
Patient experience in Northumberland and North Tyneside hospitals among best nationally
A national survey has revealed the continued strong performance of a leading North East NHS Trust, as patient feedback rates its hospitals among the best nationally.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today (Wednesday, August 21) published the results of the 2023 Adult Inpatients Survey, which is based on the experiences of more than 63,000 patients who spent at least one night in hospital across 131 NHS trusts in England.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust runs hospitals in Northumberland and North Tyneside, including the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, Hexham, Wansbeck and North Tyneside general hospitals, and community hospitals in Alnwick, Berwick, Blyth and Haltwhistle.
Based on feedback from almost 500 of its patients, the trust has been highlighted in an outliers report for performing ‘better than expected’ – with positive patient responses across the survey being ‘significantly above the trust average’.
Of the 12 positive outliers, the majority are specialist trusts with a specific focus on the likes of cancer or orthopaedics. Northumbria was one of only two general acute trusts on the list, alongside University College London Hospitals.
Northumbria Healthcare’s chief executive, Birju Bartoli, said: “This is testament to the hard work, commitment and compassion of our staff, not just those on the frontline in the wards, but all those in support roles who contribute to the quality of care provided to our patients.
“It paints a really positive overall picture, but we also recognise that we do not always meet the expectations of every patient. We recognise that there is always more to do to improve, and our focus will always be on where we can do better.”
The trust was also featured in the positive outliers report in the surveys for 2021 and 2022. This time round, of the 11 survey sections, Northumbria’s responses were better than most trusts in two and somewhat better than most trusts in 5 others.
Questions about whether patients were involved in discussions and decisions about their care and about support provided to patients once they had left hospital scored particularly strongly.
Jo Mackintosh, the trust’s chief experience officer, said: “While surveys like these provide us with valuable information, we rely on ongoing feedback to ensure the quality of our care and make any improvements needed.
“Our real-time patient experience programme has long been recognised as one of the most wide-ranging in the NHS and it means we can stay reactive and responsive to the needs of our communities.”
There are several other ways that you can help shape Northumbria Healthcare’s services. Information on becoming a member or a governor of the trust and its Have your say online forum is available at www.
For more information about the survey or for full reports, visit https://
Media contact
Ben O’Connell, external communications manager, Northumbria Healthcare
Benjamin.O'Connell@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.ukor