Patient experience scores released

Patient experience scores have been released today by the Department of Health.

Following on from figures announced in April, the overall patient experience rating for adult inpatients in 2007 to this year is 75.3, down 0.9 points from the score of 76.2 in the baseline year of 05/06.

However, the overall patient experience grade for primary care services over the same period is 77.5, a rise of 0.5 since the last time the research was conducted.

Community mental health services also recorded an increase of 1.1 points to 75.6, a hike of 0.4 from the 75.6 score in 2006/2007.

In other news, David Foster has been appointed to the post of deputy chief nursing officer at the Department of Health.

Taking affect from December 1st, his replacement follows the departure of Janice Sigsworth in October this year.

The new role will focus on nursing careers and the quality of nursing and midwifery care, as part of the Next Stage Review that set out reforms to the National Health Service.

Mr Foster said: “I am looking forward to taking up my new role and the challenges that this will bring.”

“There are tremendous opportunities to drive up the quality of nursing and midwifery care as part of the Next Stage Review,” he added.