The National Care Experience Programme has announced that text invitations calling for participation in Ireland’s National Inpatient Experience Survey will be sent from today.

The National Inpatient Experience Survey is a nationwide programme of engagement spanning 40 public hospitals from six HSE Health Regions. The survey will invite people who have spent 24 hours or more in a public hospital during the month of May 2026 to share their care experiences. Findings from previous iterations of this survey were used to inform improvements to the quality and safety of care provided in public acute hospitals.

From today and throughout June and July 2026, eligible participants will receive a text message from CareSurvey, a trusted sender, inviting them to complete the survey through a secure link. Anyone who is unsure of the safety of the link received through text message is encouraged to contact the National Care Experience Programme, via our helpline or email. People can call the Freephone service 1800 314 093 (Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm) or email info@yourexperience.ie. 

The survey includes 53 questions covering every aspect of inpatient care, including admission to hospital, the ward environment, care and treatment, interaction with staff and discharge from hospital. Results from the survey will be used to improve care by identifying what is working well and where improvements are necessary. 

Since 2017, over 66,000 people have taken part in the National Inpatient Experience Survey. Feedback gathered from past surveys has directly informed quality improvement initiatives across local and national levels to improve the experience of hospital care.

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill said: 

“The National Inpatient Experience Survey gives people an opportunity to share their experience of inpatient hospital care and I encourage as many people as possible to take part. The feedback gathered through this survey allows us to continue to improve the services we provide to our patients.”

HIQA’s Chief Executive Officer, Angela Fitzgerald, stated:

“This is our seventh National Inpatient Experience Survey, which we conduct every two years to better understand patients’ experiences of inpatient care across Ireland and enable sustained improvements in terms of what really matters to patients. This Inpatient Programme is underpinned by a strong partnership between the Department of Health, HIQA, HSE, public providers and patient partners. This partnership has been central to effecting sustained improvements in how services are organised and delivered to support safe and effective care. Previous findings on opportunities for improvement have helped shape initiatives such as the HSE’s National Healthcare Communication Programme for health professionals and HIQA’s review of the national standards for discharge information.

It is very encouraging to see that the vast majority of patients continue to report very positive experiences. We also recognise that there is more work to do particularly in the area of communications as patients move through their hospital journey.

This Programme depends critically on patient participation and we would like to acknowledge sincerely their role in amplifying what really matters to them. We are very grateful to healthcare staff across Ireland for their ongoing commitment to listening, learning and improving care. Their support is a critical enabler for change and we look forward to continuing this important partnership together as we commence the next National Inpatient Experience Survey.”

Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, Anne O’Connor said:          

“For patients who recently spent some time in hospital, this National Inpatient Experience Survey provides them with an opportunity to share their experiences with us. The survey gives patients the chance to have a direct say in improving how we deliver inpatient hospital services. With increased demand and high levels of attendance our acute hospitals are treating more patients than ever. The questions asked in this survey cover a wide range of aspects of inpatient care in hospital from admission to hospital, care, treatment, and discharge.

I really encourage those who are invited to participate in the survey to take part. The views shared will provide us with a clearer picture of the quality of care and safety in Irish hospitals, as seen through the eyes of the patients. I also want to thank healthcare staff. Their support is vital in helping us identify opportunities for continuous improvement and enhancing the care we provide. We will use the feedback to develop quality improvement initiatives and bring about effective and sustainable improvements.”

All survey responses will be anonymised, analysed, and compiled into a national report detailing the quality of inpatient care. The final report will be published in late 2026 and made available to the public on www.yourexperience.ie.