6 January 2011
The health service could reduce its costs by taking more account of patients’ experiences in hospital, according to an NHS Confederation report published today.
Feeling better? Improving patient experience in hospital says well-informed patients who are comfortable in their surroundings are less likely to develop complications and be re-admitted.
Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: ‘Simple things like spending time with patients, talking to them, listening to their concerns and addressing issues like noise, privacy and the quality of food, can make a huge difference.
‘People who have a better experience in these terms are happier, healthier and do better. That ultimately means they will also cost the hospital less to get back on their feet again as well as being less likely to be readmitted.’
She added that negative patient experiences were often indicative of more deep-rooted problems. The report reflects on the situation at Mid-Staffordshire Hospital, where inspectors uncovered systemic failures of care.
‘One of the most concerning things about the situation that developed at Mid-Staffs was the sense that patients were not being listened to and that even people who received satisfactory care, reported that their experiences were not very positive,’ Webber said.
