Patient rating experience revealed after survey of Portlaoise hospital

A big majority of people treated at Portlaoise hospital said they had a good or very good experience, according to the newly published 2022 National Inpatient Experience Survey.

The 84% good or very good rating among those admitted and who participated in the survey of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise gives the Laois facility a slightly higher than the national average ranking while the ratings for all stages of care were about the same in 2022 as in 2021.

The survey reveals that 62.8% had a very good experience with 20.7% having a good experience. Some 16.5% of patients had a fair to poor time at the hospital.

The Health Information and Quality Authorty (HIQA) published the findings which showed that while 388 people who were admitted to the hospital in May 2022 were invited to take part, less than 40% or 143 participated. This was below the national average participation rate.

The highest satisfaction rates were recorded in three question categories

When asked about respect and dignity in the emergency department 91% of people said that they were always treated with respect and dignity

As for privacy when being examined or treated 90% of people said they were always given enough privacy.

On the provision of information to family members 61%  said that their family or someone else close to them was
definitely given all the information they needed to help care for them.

When asked about care delivered on wards the highest-scoring question related to cleanliness with 87% of people finding them very clean. The Lowest-scoring question revealed that just over a quarter of people said that they could not find a member of staff to talk to about their worries or fears on the wards.

On the topic of examinations, diagnosis and treatment the highest-scoring question related to privacy when being examined or treated. A total of 90% of people said that they were always given enough privacy. The lowest-scoring question showed that 11% of people  said that they did not have enough time to discuss their care and treatment with a doctor.

When it came to discharge or transfers, the highest rating, 76%, said that the purpose of medications they were to take
at home was fully explained to them.

The lowest-scoring question revealed that 36% of people said that they were not told about danger signals to watch for after they went home.

In relation to other aspects of care in Portlaoise, the highest-scoring questions related to toilet and bathroom cleanliness. Some 82% of people said they were very clean.

A further 87% of people said that they were always treated with respect  and dignity while they were in hospital.

The lowest-scoring question revealed that 17% of people found that their family or someone else close to them did not have enough opportunity to talk to a doctor.

The survey also asked about experience during the Covid-19 pandemic.  82% of people who had questions about COVID-19 said that they always got answers they could understand. A further 69% of people said that they had no worries or fears about COVID-19.

Some 29% of people who had worries or fears said that they could not find a member of staff to talk to about them.

In reply to a finding that doctors and nurses do not always give patients’ family or someone close information the hospital said it intends to roll out of the National Healthcare Communication Programme for staff in the Emergency Department and inpatient wards  in early 2023.

Responding to the finding that patients or families do not know whom to talk to about their worries or how to doctor about the same the hospital planed to introduce a Hospital Patient Information leaflet to be given to all patients on admission by the end of this year.

On the issue of patients not being advised of  who to contact if they require information or support after discharge, the hospital said it would embed the Patient Discharge Information Leaflet.

HIQA said that during May 2022, 24,996 people were invited to participate in the fifth National Inpatient Experience Survey. In total, 10,904 people took part in this survey, a response rate of 44%.

It said the majority of patients (81.9%) rated their overall experience of hospital care as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ with most patients saying they were always treated with respect and dignity. HIQA says respondents across Ireland also gave high ratings for their interactions with nurses, pain management and confidence and trust in hospital staff.

Nevertheless, it said patients also highlighted areas for improvement, including long waiting times in the emergency department. 29% of patients said that they were admitted to a ward within the HSE’s target that 70% of patients should be admitted or discharged within six hours. However, 334 people (4.5%) said they waited 48 hours or more before being admitted to a ward.

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Patients were also less positive about the availability of emotional support, time to discuss care and treatment with a doctor, information on how to manage a condition after leaving hospital, and opportunities for family members to talk to a doctor. 22% of participants said that they did not find a member of staff to talk to about their worries and fears.

The average patient rating for ‘care on the ward’ was 8.2 out of 10. Patients generally gave positive ratings of cleanliness, with 75% of people saying that their room was very clean.

‘Discharge or transfer’ was the lowest-rated stage of care, with an average patient rating of 6.9 out of 10. While 69% of patients said that the purpose of medications they were to take at home was fully explained to them, 36% said that they were not told about medication side effects.