Ennis Hospital Recognised For Best Overall Patient Experience

Patrick Lynch, HSE National Director, Quality Assurance and Verification Division, presenting a special recognition to Ennis Hospital for Best Overall Experience in a Hospital in NPES 2018 to Margaret Gleeson, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery, UL Hospitals Group; Patricia O’Gorman, Operational Director of Nursing, Ennis Hospital and Patricia Buckley, Clinical Placement Coordinator, Ennis Hospital

Ennis General Hospital has been recognised for the Best Overall Experience in a Hospital.

It was among a number of hospitals who received excellent results in the National Patient Experience Survey 2018 who were this week honoured at a conference in Dublin Castle.

Over 26,000 patients from 40 acute hospitals around the country completed the survey.

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98% of patients in Ennis Hospital rated their overall experience as very good, compared to a national average of 84%, while 100% of patients said they were always treated with respect and dignity while in hospital.

Patricia O’Gorman, Operational Director of Nursing, Ennis Hospital, told conference attendees that staff in Ennis had worked hard on improving the patient experience.

She outlined a number of initiatives around improving written information on medications and care plans ahead of discharge; increasing the number of staff wearing name badges and increasing awareness among patients of supports available to them about their worries or concerns.

She also highlighted a number of values-driven, patient-centred projects that were part of the culture of Ennis Hospital.

“Joy in work comes from understanding why your work is important; not from the work but from the knowledge that the patient is going to use it. This is who we are working for and this is who depends on us,” said Ms O’Gorman.

Feedback from the 2018 survey identified a number of areas where Ennis can improve, including medical staff taking more time to discuss care and treatment with their patients and more work around discharge planning.

Ms O’Gorman said staff in Ennis were committed to making further improvements and outlined a number of initiatives underway around health literacy; written and verbal communication and protection of mealtimes for surgical patients.

Three additional quality improvement projects from UL Hospitals Group were showcased at this Tuesday’s conference: a Patient Information Booklet at UHL; patient-facing posters at ward level ‘You Said, We Are Doing’ highlighting improvements made as a result of patient feedback at UHL; and the Patient Befriender volunteer role at Nenagh Hospital.

To view a video on Ennis Hospital and the National Patient Experience Survey click here