Patients asked to rate their care in new Tullamore hospital survey

A new survey is underway to give patients who were discharged from the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, a chance to offer feedback on the quality of care they received.

The fifth National Inpatient Experience Survey is open to all patients aged over 16 who spent 24 hours or more in hospital in Tullamore and were discharged during the month of May.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is organising the survey which, it says, offers patients the opportunity to share their experiences of healthcare and offer their views on what is working well and what improvements they believe are necessary.

Nationally, almost 26,000 patients are eligible to participate in the annual survey this year.

Last year, there was a survey response rate of 41% from patients who attended Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, which HIQA said indicated there was a strong desire for patients to talk about their experiences in hospital in order to bring about meaningful change.

The National Inpatient Experience Survey contains a total of 67 questions on topics such as admission to hospital, care and treatment on the ward, trust in hospital staff, respect and dignity, and care during the pandemic.

"I would like to encourage all eligible patients to tell us about their recent experiences of care in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore," said HIQA's Director of Health Information and Standards, Rachel Flynn.

"By sharing your views, you will provide us with invaluable information on the improvements that are necessary to deliver a more person-centred health service in your area. It is by listening and learning from your experiences that we can bring about effective and sustainable changes across the healthcare sector."

The general manager of the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, Catriona McDonald said staff at the hospital were "constantly working to improve patient experience through listening, responding and improving."

"This survey for 2022 will provide us with a clear insight into what we are doing well and where we need to introduce new practices and measures to improve things. I am urging all patients who receive a form to complete it, so we can continue to deliver an excellent standard of care," she said.

For more information on the survey, visit: yourexperience.ie