Patient focus updates - 7 February 2013
New policy, guidance and initiatives from across the UK that focus on the patient perspective and experience. For more information about this theme see Quality and Safety e-Bulletin: Patient focus.
Some of the resources linked to are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
BMC Nursing: An investigation into the spiritual needs of neuro-oncology patients from a nurse perspective. The study concludes that "there is a need for healthcare professionals to provide spiritual care for neuro-oncology patients and their relatives. Although strategies were identified that nurses can use to support patients with spiritual needs further research is required to explore how effective nurses are at delivering spiritual care and if nurses are the most appropriate professionals to support neuro-oncology patients with spiritual care".
Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre: Models for citizen and patient involvement in health care policy. Part I: Exploration of their feasibility and acceptability. This report describes current citizen and patient engagement in healthcare decision-making in Belgium. It develops possible alternative models for public involvement in the health system. The report also assesses the acceptability of its recommendations to stakeholders.
Cabinet Office: Barriers to choice: public services review: how are people using choice in public services. This is the report of an independent review which was set up to answer the question ‘how do people use the choices they have been given in public services? In particular: how much are these choices used and valued by the most disadvantaged?’ The report discusses the factors that prevent people from understanding and exercising choice in different services.
Health in Wales: Survey shows high satisfaction rates in NHS Wales. Satisfaction with the NHS in Wales is higher than the European average and compares favourably with the UK average, according to National Survey for Wales results. The survey also shows 97 per cent of people seen by a GP and 95 per cent attending a hospital appointment said they were treated with dignity and respect. Satisfaction with treatment in Accident and Emergency departments was 84 per cent, and 92 per cent of those who had attended hospital appointments were satisfied with the care they received.
INVOLVE: Current projects. INVOLVE is a national advisory group that supports greater public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research. This is the first update on projects and activities covering the period September 2012 to January 2013. Regular updates of INVOLVE's most recent projects and activities will now be available online.
Patient's Association: Complaint handling in NHS trusts: reality, criteria and identification of best practice (PDF 1.5MB). This report outlines the results of an analysis which shows substantial variations in the way in which hospitals display information about how to make a complaint. It also suggests that support to patients is incomplete and unclear, with 35 per cent of staff citing insufficient training in complaints handling as an issue. Key recommendations from the report include: accessible information on how to make a complaint on trusts’ websites, as well as on leaflets and posters throughout NHS hospital ward; complaints being regarded as a learning opportunity to avoid creating a culture of blame; and specific provisions for complaint-related staff training and support.
Welsh Government: Hospital food: improvements on the menu. Hospital food across Wales has been given a makeover. The All Wales Hospital Menu Framework is designed to ensure patients have tasty choices that address their individual nutritional requirements, and includes a database of recipes to be used in all hospitals.