Sligo University Hospital welcomes the publication of the National Inpatient Experience Survey 2024

The results of the National Inpatient Experience Survey, carried out in all public hospitals in Ireland in May, have been published. This is the sixth year that the survey has been carried out and was an opportunity for patients of Sligo University Hospital to describe their experiences in hospital.

Welcoming the findings, Grainne McCann, Hospital Manager said, “The findings of the survey provide us with important insights into patients’ perspectives of how they experienced treatment in our hospital and what improvements are needed to our services. It also helps us see how the patient voice has helped us change and improve hospital care since 2017 when the first survey was carried out.

“We are very pleased that the majority of participants from Sligo University Hospital reported positive experiences in hospital. 87% of participants said they had a ‘good’ to ‘very good’ overall experience. Patients rated the ‘care on the ward’ at 8.3 out of 10 which is above the national average of 8.0.

“Areas where patients identified good experiences included patients stating; they definitely felt they had enough time to discuss their care and treatment with a doctor; that there family or someone close to them had enough opportunity to talk to a doctor; and that they received enough information from the hospital on how to manage their condition after discharge.

“Some of the areas where patients identified as needing improvement included; patients who wanted to give feedback or make a complaint, did not know how or where to do so; they were not given any written or printed information about what they should or should not do after leaving hospital; and that they were not told about any danger signals to watch out for when they went home.

“We are using the results of this survey to help us prioritise quality improvements for the coming year. And as part of our improvement plan in the areas needing improvement outlined, we will display posters at the bedside with general information to include details on complaint procedures, like ‘Your Service Your Say’ comment cards with QR code links.  Review current departmental feedback options and educate staff on complaint/feedback management to include information sessions, and promotion of hseland.ie modules.

In addition, we intend to organise an information day for staff, patients, and the general public, with information stands placed in key areas around the hospital. Create patient support packs that include the 'Your Service Your Say' comment card, SUH Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) leaflets, and 'Your Health Your Voice' leaflets.

"Another focus for us is to improve on the written information provided to dementia patients, as well as to communicate the danger signals to dementia patients, their families, and carers about what to look out for. We will create dementia-specific discharge packets that include HSE and Alzheimer's Society leaflets which will be customised to the specific concerns of the person with dementia.

“We plan to develop discharge information leaflets for dementia patients and their caregivers. The leaflets will contain general information about reviewing medications and directions on how to take it. Schedule follow-up appointments for patients, review the resources available to them when they return home, and organise staff education sessions on the discharge process for dementia patients.

“We will promote education sessions on the delivery of person-cantered care to people experiencing non-cognitive symptoms of dementia.

“I would like to thank all the patients who took part in the survey and the staff who encouraged and facilitated it.”

As stated in the survey results for Sligo University Hospital, one patient commented, “I felt confident and part of my team rather than confused and helpless. I cannot emphasise the degree to which the doctor and his team transformed my experience and alleviated confusion.”

Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer HSE West and North West said, “Through this survey our patients have provided us with really valuable feedback on their experience of care in our hospitals. I want to thank them for taking the time to do so. It is their engagement that allows us to further strengthen and improve our services. I would also like to thank our staff who support and encourage our patients to participate in this survey and for their commitment to providing good quality, patient-centered care. They are committed to making improvements for our patients.

“This survey allows us to engage with our patients and learn from and embed areas we are doing well in and also highlight areas we could do better in. The 2024 results showed that 84% of patients across our hospitals had a positive experience of care and this is something we are very proud of. We will continue to develop and introduce initiatives in response to areas where our patient’s feedback has not been satisfactory.”