Trust aims to reach out to patients to improve service
Ealing Hospital NHS Trust is to initiate a series of focus group sessions with cancer patients who use the hospital’s facilities in response to a survey that ranked the hospital in the bottom ten for cancer care in the country. It was one of 8 London hospitals that featured in the worst performers list.
The Trust contends that the low response from its cancer patients to the national survey led to their poor showing. The survey, directed at in-patients, did not capture comments from the larger number of patients receiving care as an out-patient.
Julie Halliday, the Trust’s Director of Nursing, said: “The fact remains that the response rate to the Patients’ Survey is extremely low and gives no real indication of what our cancer patients’ needs are. We know there are some issues around how staff communicate to patients which we need to address and we will be holding further training for ward staff."
The hospital has had a cancer patients’ user group at the hospital for many years and they recently boosted the membership of that group to 16 members. They welcome new members who are keen to share their experiences. The group meets with Cancer Lead Nurse Sarah Gigg and her team every two months.
Julie Halliday added,“But there are still many of our patients who for various reasons including language differences, are not being heard. We are committed to improving services in response to our patient’s views and so hearing the views of our patient’s views is of great importance to us."
In 2010 a focus group held by the hospital for cancer patients received a wider range of interested patients and they are planning to hold similar sessions again to attract as many of our cancer patients as possible and allow them an opportunity to have their say.
The hospital
also urge any cancer patients who want to comment on their services to contact them though their PALs office for the attention of Sarah Gigg on 0800 0641120 or via the Ealing hospital website.
May 11, 2011