Patients - have your say on hospital care during Covid pandemic
PATIENTS are being invited to share their experiences of the hospital care they received during the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the fourth national Inpatient Experience Survey, which launches today.
The survey will ask people aged 16 and over who spend 24 hours or more in a public acute hospital, and are discharged during the month of May, for their views on the care they received.
In this year’s survey patients will be asked about admission to hospital, the ward environment, care and treatment, discharge from hospital, as well as additional questions about their experiences in hospital during the pandemic, such as staff communication while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and contact with family and friends given visitor restrictions.
Eligible patients will receive the survey by post.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: “The National Inpatient Experience Survey is an invaluable tool that gives patients a direct say in improving the quality and the safety of our health services.
“I am delighted that the survey is taking place this year and encourage people to participate. The results from this year’s survey will be particularly important given the changes in our hospitals over the past year. I look forward to receiving the results of the survey to find out what is working well in our hospitals and how the findings will be used to improve patient experience into the future.
“In what has been an exceptionally challenging year for our frontline healthcare workers and hospital staff, they have continued to demonstrate their ongoing commitment and dedication to our patients throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We know that the most successful approach to building a safer quality healthcare system is when the health service works together with patients and communities.”
Said Rachel Flynn, HIQA’s Director of Health Information and Standards and Director of the National Care Experience Programme: “Frontline healthcare workers and hospital staff have faced an unprecedented challenge over the past year in managing and containing the spread of Covid-19.
“It is now more important than ever that as many patients as possible tell us about their experiences of hospital care so that we can identify what works well, not only in terms of Covid-19 management, but also within the wider suite of hospital services.
“It is through direct engagement with patients, listening to and learning from their experiences, that we can bring about effective and sustainable changes across the healthcare sector.”
Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE, said: “I would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all our hospital staff over the past year and would ask that you continue to encourage all eligible patients to complete this year’s survey.
“Listening to our patients and learning from their experience can help us to make improvements, to better understand what matters to patients and maintain trust and confidence in our hospitals and services.”