Patients told us that they had been given relevant information before they had decided to go ahead with an operation. They had also been given relevant information, followed by an opportunity to ask questions, at a pre-operation assessment meeting. Patients told us that they were unsure if there was a care plan for them and they confirmed they had not seen it nor been asked to sign it. However, they told us they had been involved in the care planning process and had been kept well informed. One patient said, 'There's a personal touch, they have time to discuss my care with me.' Another patient said, 'The staff are very attentive, always asking you if you're OK or got any concerns or anything you need.'
Patients told us they had not been asked by the hospital to give feedback about the quality of the services received. They were unclear what the procedure would be if they wanted to make a complaint or to raise any issues; instead they relied on speaking informally with the ward staff. However, all patients told us they had no complaints to make. One patient said, 'I would tell someone I suppose, but I haven't had any complaints up to now.'
Patients were very positive about the care received. One patient said, 'This place is like a finely tuned car, everything works well.' Another patient said, 'The care has been second to none.' One patient told us that they had not been prompted to eat following an operation. However, when they rang their buzzer to request food, their meal was immediately available.
Patients compared this hospital to others in Nottingham and felt that this hospital was better. One patient said, 'Why can't it always be like it is here?'
Patients told us they felt safe staying at the hospital. When asked if they felt the care they received was safe one patient said 'absolutely'. When asked what they would do if they had any worries a patient said, 'I would just report it to any of the staff.'
We asked patients about cleanliness and they were all very satisfied. A patient said, 'The cleanliness is very good.' Another patient said, 'The cleaner did my bathroom very well.'
We also asked patients about the maintenance of the hospital. Some patients who were staying in refurbished rooms were very satisfied. Others, who were staying in rooms that had not been refurbished, felt their rooms needed improving; one patient said, 'It needs redecorating.'
We asked patients if there were enough staff to meet their needs and they all said that there were. One patient said, 'On Saturday a whole load of new patients came onto the ward but the staff coped fine.' Patients told us that staff responded quickly when the call bell was used. One patient said, 'Yes there's enough staff. You never feel you're taking someone away from another patient.'
Patients told us that staff seemed well trained and able to do their job properly. A patient said, 'Very much so. A year ago I stayed at [another hospital in Nottingham] and there were things I didn't get told like when to take my tablets. But here there's none of that.' Another patient said, 'The care is excellent, very caring, competent and efficient, no messing around, but friendly.'
As noted in outcome 1, patients told us they had not been asked by the hospital to give feedback about the quality of the services received. They were unclear what the procedure would be if they wanted to make a complaint or to raise any issues; instead they relied on speaking informally with the ward staff. However, patients were all very happy with the care provided. One patient said, 'I wouldn't want to change anything.' Another patient said, 'It was very good.'