A POLL OF PATIENTS has found the care at St George’s Hospital to be better than two years ago, according to newly released figures.

The number of patients who thought care was “excellent” at the Tooting-based Trust jumped from nearly 30 per cent in 2002 to just over 40 per cent in 2004.

Overall, nearly 90 per cent of patients thought the care they received was either ‘good, ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’, while the number of people who said they would recommend the hospital to friends and family rose from 53.8 to 62.5%.

The results were welcomed by the hospital’s director of nursing, Dr Geraldine Walters, Director of Nursing, who said: “The survey has provided us with some useful information about the current state of our services.

“Things are definitely moving in the right direction,’ she added.

Over 500 patients took part in the survey, which was carried out in January by an independent research company.

The trust fared less well however when it came to communicating with patients and ensuring their privacy.

Only 65 per cent of patients felt that they were given enough privacy when their condition or treatment was discussed, and only 55 per cent said they had been given printed information about the hospital before being admitted.

Other results from the survey include:

  • The number of patients who thought the hospital was “very clean” rose from 38 per cent to 48 per cent.
  • Overall, more than 85 per cent of patients thought the hospital room or ward they stayed in was ‘very clean’ or ‘fairly clean’.
  • Nearly 90 per cent rated the courtesy of nurses as ‘good’, ‘very good’, or ‘excellent.’
  • And 80 per cent of patients said they ‘always’ had confidence and trust in the doctors treating them.

Dr Walters continues:

“It’s heartening to see the progress we have made reflected in the survey. But at the same time we know we are not perfect. There are still several aspects of our care that we need to improve.

“We will be studying the results of this survey very closely and will work hard over the next few months with hospital staff and the St George’s patient forum, which represents the local community, in addressing problems that have been highlighted by our patients.

“We would like to thank everyone who took part in the survey. Their feedback is invaluable and will go a long way to helping us make our services better.”