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Patients reporting better experience of A&E

Patients are having a better overall experience at A&E departments a survey published today by the CQC has shown.

Of the 40,000 patients who responded to the survey, relating to January to March 2014, the majority rated their overall experience as good with 80 per cent rating their visit at least seven out of ten. This is an improvement from 76 percent in 2012 when the survey was last carried out.

The top three areas where patients rated services most highly were: staff members explaining the purpose of medication clearly, being given privacy when being examined or treated and not feeling threatened while in A&E.

In both 2012 and 2014 96 per cent reported they were treated with respect and dignity and this year slightly more felt this was always the case.

Professor Jonathan Benger, National Clinical Director for Urgent Care at NHS England, said: “It is great to see such good feedback from the public about A&E services.

“This report shows that despite the pressures on A&E and the increasing numbers of people accessing services, our staff are continuing to do an excellent job and treating patients with respect.”

To view more details about the survey and to see the results, visit the Care Quality Commission website.

One comment

  1. kath Pinnington says:

    On reading the report saying a&e has improved. The staff maybe explaining things better. Waiting time has increased. I have cancer and was allergic to the chemo. When I went to a&e with tongue, mouth and face swollen. I waited 3 hours before being seen. Then sent up to mau. I was in the waiting room 2 hours before being seen.
    I suppose mau was better than 3 years ago when I had pulmonary embolisms and left 6 hours on mau before being seen. Though a&e wasn’t. I was waiting 3 hours.