Princess Royal Hospital Ward 7(Gastroenterology and General Medicine) - Enter and View Visit Report

Report - 14 August 2014

The purpose of the visit was to explore the quality of patient experience, dignity, care, and respect where there is a high turnover of patients or other challenges, and including concerns received regarding patient meals.

Summary

We wanted to learn about:

The quality of care that the patients experienced while on the ward, and whether care was delivered with respect for the patient’s dignity
If there were enough staff to meet their care needs, and about staff responses to patient requests for assistance
If patients and visiting relatives had complained about anything related to patient care, whether they knew how to make a complaint
The food quality, choices, and the meals and drinks experience
Did staff treat patients with quality care, dignity and respect

Key Findings

From the responses from 16 patients we spoke to, patients and their relatives were happy or content with the quality of care they received on the ward. Comments include: “Excellent” and “Ward staff visit him regularly to make sure he is comfortable, and overall he cannot fault the care provided to him”
Most patients said they were satisfied with the staff; meeting their care needs and responding to their requests for assistance. However, several patients said they had experienced long waiting times for staff to respond to their calls for assistance
Most patients or their relatives said they did not have any complaints about the care the patients were receiving - they said they had “no concerns”. Neither patients nor relatives mentioned PALS
Most patients found the food adequate though some thought the “food was a little bland”
We observed several occasions when staff treatment and care of the patients showed dignity and respect and quality care