Patient feedback sought on stay at Wanganui Hospital

FEEDBACK: A survey is under way for those who spend a night at Wanganui Hospital.

People who have spent at least one night in Wanganui Hospital may get the chance to give feedback in a new survey being rolled out around the country.

Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) director of nursing Sandy Blake said patients between August 4 and 17 this year will be randomly selected and approached for feedback in the new series of surveys, sent out on Tuesday.

In total, 7500 people across New Zealand are being contacted.

"Their feedback will help us improve the quality of our hospital care and help us better understand what patients and their families think works well for them," Mrs Blake said.

She urged patients to take part in the survey, and said all feedback was valuable.

"I welcome the fact DHBs are going to be sending the survey ... at least once every three months."

Mrs Blake is urging hospital patients to take part in a new survey asking them for feedback on their health care.

The survey was developed by the Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) which Mrs Blake works with as national clinical lead for falls injury prevention programme.

The survey is the first one for which hospital patients' feedback has been collected and measured in the same way across the country.

Patients with an email address receive the form electronically. Those with a cellphone receive a text message telling them how to access the survey online, and patients without either receive a hard copy in the mail.

Responses to the survey will be collated by the HQSC before each DHB is given a rating out of 10 for coordination, partnership, communication, and physical and emotional needs.

"However, what is more important than a score is that we learn from the feedback and make changes that will improve the quality of care for patients."

Results of the first survey will be available on the Commission's website in October 2014. Further information can be found at www.hqsc.govt.nz.