HOSPITALS across Sussex could do better when it comes to the caring for patients who have to come in for treatment.

The county’s three main hospital trusts were all given an average score in the latest national inpatient survey carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A sample of patients who had an overnight stay in hospital at some point between June and August last year were asked a range of questions.

These include how long they waited for beds, their privacy and dignity and their experience in A&E before being admitted.

Other questions included how well doctors and nurses explained what was happening, advice given about their medication and how clean the wards were.

They were also asked whether they were given enough information, if they were involved in decisions about their care, whether there were enough nurses to care for them, if the wards were noisy and what arrangements were in place for when they left hospital.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust and East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust scored between seven and ten in most categories, in line with other trusts across the country.

Patients at Brighton and Western Sussex rated their overall experience as 8.1 and 8.2 out of 10 respectively while East Sussex Healthcare was given the lowest rating of 7.8 out of 10.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust deputy-director of nursing Maggie Davies, said: “Our continuing aim is to be among the best-performing trusts on all measures of patient experience, and the inpatient survey is really useful in helping us identify the areas we need to focus on to do that.”

East Sussex Healthcare director of nursing Alice Webster said: “We welcome the views of patients who use our services and will be using the information to help us continue to provide the best possible care for the local community.

“While the trust is pleased the survey showed areas that had improved from the previous year, we acknowledge that there are a number of areas where improvements can be made in our patients’ experience and we are looking at ways that will address these issues.

“We want everyone who comes under our care to feel they are given the best-possible service and will continue to work hard towards achieving this goal.”

Background

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and the Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital and Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre in Haywards Heath.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust runs Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust runs Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.