Patients rate food as "very good" in NHS hospitals

In a survey of 76,000 recent adult inpatients at 165 hospital trusts in England, 42% of respondents gave their care the top possible rating, up from 38% in 2002, and a rise from 41% in the last survey. The survey also suggested that satisfaction with overall care remains high with the proportion of patients saying their care is "good", "very good", or "excellent" at 92%. In comparison to 2002, 2006 (18%) and 2007 (19%), a higher percentage of patients said the quality of food is "very good", although there is still room for improvement. However the Commission suggested that there were concerns in the responses of patients at different NHS trusts, advising that some must take more action if they are to achieve the standards of the best. The results showed that 77% of patients rated their care as "excellent" in the best performing trust, but only 24% in the lowest performing. The Commission is releasing a national overview of these comparative scores on all NHS trusts on topics such as hospital food, cleanliness and levels of privacy on its website today. These results are expected to help trusts to understand the views of their patients and respond to any concerns. Anna Walker, the Commission's chief executive, commented on the findings: "Overall, it's encouraging that a steadily increasing percentage of patients say care is 'excellent'. It's good to see advances on issues like the quality of food, waiting times, and team working between doctors and nurses." But there is still room for improvement. Anna added: "But the survey also shows that in some hospitals the NHS is struggling to deliver on some of the basics of hospital care. There are striking variations in performance in key areas such as providing single-sex accommodation and giving people help when they need it. Those performing poorly must learn from those who perform well." The survey has been coordinated for the Commission by the Phil Institute. Weblink: www.healthcarecommission.org.uk