Surrey and Sussex NHS 'disappointed' over hospital survey

NHS chiefs have said they are disappointed after inpatients rated six out of 10 areas of care at East Surrey Hospital as worse than other trusts.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) <link> <caption>survey</caption> <url href="http://www.cqc.org.uk/survey/inpatient/RTP" platform="highweb"/> </link> saw the trust score low on A&E, waiting lists, waiting to get to a bed, care and treatment, doctors, and operations.

<link> <caption>Surrey and Sussex NHS</caption> <url href="http://www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk/test-section/inpatient-survey/" platform="highweb"/> </link> chief executive Michael Wilson said the trust had been working hard to improve facilities.

The hospital in Redhill serves 400,000 people across Surrey and West Sussex.

Mr Wilson said: "We were disappointed in the results of the survey but we weren't totally surprised.

"Our own monthly patient surveys told us a similar story in July last year, the same month this survey was carried out, since when we have been working hard to improve our facilities."

'Safe service'

He said the trust launched a £14m redevelopment programme in September 2011 which included delivering a modernised and enlarged emergency department with an increased capacity of 30%.

The redevelopment had already seen the opening of a new emergency department reception area, with a new clinical observation area, and two new hospital wards providing 40 extra beds, he added.

Mr Wilson said other more recent reviews had confirmed the hospital provided a safe service to patients.

The other four areas of care included in the CQC survey covered the hospital and wards, nurses, leaving hospital, and overall views and experiences.

In those areas, East Surrey Hospital was rated by patients as "about the same" as other NHS trusts.

The CQC, which ran the <link> <caption>Inpatient Survey 2011</caption> <url href="http://www.cqc.org.uk/public/reports-surveys-and-reviews/surveys/inpatient-survey-2011" platform="highweb"/> </link> across England, said a questionnaire was sent to 850 adult inpatients who had at least one overnight stay during June, July, or August 2011 at each trust.

It received responses from 430 patients at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.