A new survey has found Ennis Hospital to be one of the highest-rated facilities in the country when it comes to acute hospital experience, while University Hospital Limerick has received the lowest rating.
The findings are contained in the Health Information and Quality Authority’s sixth National Inpatient Experience Survey report.
More than 1,150 patients across Clare and the wider Midwest region have contributed to the survey which consisted of 52 detailed questions on the likes of care during examinations, diagnosis, treatment, discharge, transfer, and for the first time, perceived patient safety.
Across the region’s acute hospitals, namely Ennis, Nenagh, St. John’s, Croom Orthapaedic Hospital and UHL, 80% described their overall experience as good or very good.
The overall rating in the Midwest for patients being treated with dignity and respect was 8.8 out of 10, while cleanliness and the environment and wards also received an 8.8 score and pain management was rated 8.5.
Other areas had less favourable ratings, with communication with patients on discharge getting a 7, opportunities for patients to talk to a doctor on the ward getting a 6.8, and patients ability to find someone to talk to about worries or fears getting just a 6.1.
In terms of overall acute hospital experience, Nenagh and Ennis were among the top 10 best-rated in the country, garnering scores of 9.3 and 9.0 respectively.
Croom received an 8.5 overall rating while St. John’s was rated 8.3, and at 7.8, the survey found University Hospital Limerick to be the lowest-rated acute facility in the Midwest and nationwide.
