Poole Hospital’s urgent and emergency care services have been rated ‘better performing' by patients in a major new study published on 23 October which looks at urgent and emergency NHS care across the country.
The Care Quality Commission survey asked patients about their experiences of urgent and emergency care, with nearly 450 patients putting forward their views:
- More than 90% said they were treated with dignity and respect ‘all the time’ in the hospital’s A&E department (national average: 79%)
- More than 40% of patients (40.7%) rated their experience in the department as ’10 out of 10’ (national average: 29%)
- More than 90% (93.4%) spoke to a nurse or doctor within an hour of arriving, with almost half of patients (48.4%) speaking with a nurse or doctor within 15 minutes (national averages: 81% and 32% respectively)
- More than 80% felt they had enough time to discuss their care (83.5%; national average 75%), while almost 90% felt they had confidence and trust in the doctors and nurses they spoke to (national average: 76%).
Mr Lee Gray (pictured), consultant in emergency medicine and transformation lead for emergency medicine across Poole Hospital and The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, said while the results are encouraging there is no room for complacency.
“These results are really something to be proud of, to have patients at Poole rate us as better than average is a real boost for our staff who work tirelessly to ensure patients are seen and cared for in a timely way,” he said.
“Whilst it is encouraging and welcome, there is more hard work to do to ensure we continue to meet the needs and expectations of our patients, and we are constantly seeking ways in which we can improve.
“Across east Dorset we have two great emergency teams, with the team at Bournemouth recently achieving top-five status nationally for meeting waiting standards. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff that make up the emergency departments whose efforts are behind these results.
“Looking ahead we want to build on the excellent integration and team working that is now underway to provide even better emergency care services in the future.”
