Publish date: 12 September 2023
Patients report positive experiences in Northumberland and North Tyneside hospitals
Patients staying in hospitals in Northumberland and North Tyneside continue to have a very positive experience of their care, according to a key national survey.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today (Tuesday, September 12) published the results of the 2022 Adult Inpatients Survey, which summarises the experiences of more than 63,000 patients who used NHS services during November 2022.
The survey asked patients for their views on different aspects of their care, such as the hospital environment, communication with staff, involvement in decisions and being treated with respect and dignity.
Across the 11 key themes in the survey, patients rated Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust better than expected in three of them – the hospital and ward, operations and procedures, and leaving hospital.
The trust was highlighted as performing better than expected in an outliers report. According to the CQC, this is because the proportion of patients responding positively about their care, across the survey, ‘was significantly above the trust average’.
Northumbria was the only acute trust in this report, with the other 11 being specialist trusts with a specific focus on the likes of cancer or orthopaedics.
The trust’s chief executive, Sir James Mackey, said: “Providing patients with outstanding care is at the heart of all we do, so reports like this reflecting on the positive experiences of our patients are always welcome.
“Despite the pressures and challenges being faced by hospitals everywhere, the standard of care for patients in Northumberland and North Tyneside is testament to the relentless hard work of our staff and I extend my sincere thanks to them for all they do.
“We don’t always get everything right and we will always focus on where we can do better, but this survey, among other feedback we get, shows that the big picture is one where the vast majority of patients have a very positive experience in our hospitals.”
The survey asked a total of 45 questions to the 522 respondents who were inpatients at Northumbria’s hospitals at the time.
The trust performed better than expected in 10 questions and somewhat better than expected in four questions. The responses were not classed as worse than expected for any questions.
Where there is room for improvement, Northumbria’s teams will look carefully at what can be done to support better experiences for patients, but this feedback is just one part of the trust’s process.
It has an extensive patient experience programme, which operates on an ongoing basis to gain authentic and reflective insight, which is then analysed and acted on.
Jo Mackintosh, the trust’s chief experience officer, said: “It is always good to receive feedback like this which confirms that the overall experience of our patients is a positive one.
“This report focuses on patients in our hospitals and as well as providing reassurance, it also helps us to identify areas where we can work to drive further improvements. The survey is a key piece of the jigsaw of information that we build up to make sure that patients receive the high-quality care they deserve.”
Beyond patient experience, Northumbria Healthcare welcomes involvement from all those with an interest in its services.
As a foundation trust, it has greater freedoms to plan local services and respond to the needs and wishes of the communities it serves. Anyone over the age of 12 can become a member to help shape the trust’s services by completing this online form.
Another way of getting more involved is via the Northumbria Online Community, which enables people to engage with others and give feedback through discussions, polls and surveys - https:/
Media contact
Ben O’Connell, external communications manager, Northumbria Healthcare
Benjamin.O'Connell@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk or 07833 046680.