Monday 1 May 2017: The first ever National Patient Experience Survey commences today in public hospitals. All adult patients who are discharged from a public acute hospital during this month will be invited to participate in the survey.

From today patients who are discharged from hospital will be given an information pack which gives details of the survey and how patients can partake. The survey will be posted to these patients within two weeks of their discharge. The survey can be completed either online or by returning the paper version in the Freepost envelope.

Patients are being asked 61 questions on topics such as confidence and trust in hospital staff, hospital food, care and treatment on the ward and the provision of information and support at discharge from hospital.

It is anticipated that almost 27,000 patients will be eligible to take part in this groundbreaking initiative, making this the largest single survey of the healthcare system in Ireland.

A joint initiative by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health, the National Patient Experience Survey Programme will use data collected from the survey to shape future healthcare policy and improve outcomes for patients. It will be a key building block in the creation of a strong patient safety culture in our health service.

Rachel Flynn, HIQA’s Director of Health Information and Standards and Programme Director for the National Patient Experience Survey said: “The importance of responding to this survey cannot be underestimated. For the first time, we will be able to see from a patient’s perspective, not only examples of best practise in service delivery, but we can also identify areas for improvement.”

“I would like to encourage all eligible patients to respond to the survey and give us their opinion so that we can enhance the quality and safety of care provided to patients in Ireland. All responses are anonymous and confidential and none of the staff involved in your care will know whether or not you have responded” she added.

All survey responses will be combined to produce a national report on patients’ experience, as well as hospital group and individual hospital reports to improve the planning and delivery of our health service. These reports will be published on the National Patient Experience survey website.

Further information and our animation which outlines details about the survey can be found here. This animation is being played on hospitals public information screens during May.

Ends.

For further information please contact:
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
(01) 8147480 / 086 2447623 mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to the Editor

• Adult patients who spend a minimum of one night in a public acute hospital, are discharged in May 2017 and have a postal address in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to participate in the survey.
• Patients will receive the survey by post a few weeks after discharge, and can complete the form via post or online.
• Other services, such as maternity and mental health, may be included in future surveys.
• This survey is informed by patient experience surveys conducted in other countries, such as Denmark, England and New Zealand.