PATIENT EXPERIENCE PROJECT

PATIENTS RECENTLY DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL ASKED TO HELP WITH JOINT PROJECT

On 15 March 2010 the Independent Advice and Support Service and Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership launched a joint project to look at the experiences of patients discharged from hospital in the last twelve months. The deadline for feedback was August but this has been extended to 31st December to give more people an opportunity to get in touch with us.

The project wants to hear from any patients living in the Argyll and Bute area who were discharged from any hospital in the last twelve months and are willing to share their experience. Based on the feedback received, the partnership aims to look at the results with a view to improving people’s experience when they are discharged from hospitals.

The Independent Advice and Support Service (IASS) was established in response to the restructuring of the Local Health Councils, supported by Citizens Advice Scotland, and funded by local National Health Service Boards. IASS is available for anyone who uses the NHS and aims to support patients, their carers and families in their dealings with the NHS and other matters affecting their health.

IASS is a free, confidential, independent and impartial service. IASS can help people who require advice and help on a range of issues that can have an impact on health, assistance with identifying and exploring options to raise concerns about NHS services, and provide information on how to access health and community services that offer additional support for an individual’s health care needs.

Jose Walker, IASS Worker based at the Citizens Advice Bureau office in Lochgilphead, said:

“A few people have been in contact with us to share their experience of being discharged from hospital. How people are discharged and their experience at this stage in their care is crucial to promoting health and well being, and as such we are keen to encourage more people to get in touch.

“We would like to hear from anyone living in Argyll and Bute who has experience of being discharged from any hospital during the last twelve months. You can write to us or if you wish we may be able to arrange to meet you in person. What you share with us will be treated with the strictest confidence.

“Please feel free to give me a call on 01546 605556, email me at HYPERLINK "mailto:j.walker@abcab.org.uk" j.walker@abcab.org.uk or write to me at Argyll and Bute Citizens Advice Bureau, Riverside, Oban Road, Lochgilphead, PA31 8NG.”

Caroline Champion, Planning & Public Involvement Manager for Argyll & Bute Community Health Partnership, said:

“For a while now, we have heard anecdotal stories about what has happened to patients when they have been discharged from hospital. Some of these are good, but others less so. This project will enable us to start documenting these stories and really get our patients involved in helping us to improve how they experience health services.

“I would encourage anyone who has been in hospital within the last twelve months to share their experience by getting in touch with Josie. Argyll and Bute CHP is committed to learning from the people who use our services, so together we can continue to make the improvements necessary for all our patients. By extending the project until the end of the year, we hope this demonstrates our commitment to patients.”