Poole Hospital A&E: Local people’s experiences
147 people have told us about their experiences of being treated at Poole Hospital A&E, that will help the hospital improve A&E care for local people.
Poole Hospital invited former A&E patients to take part in the project, and those who responded were interviewed over the phone by our volunteers between January and June 2021.
They were asked to rate their visit to A&E and to comment on what could be done differently to improve their experience. They were also asked how they had ended up at A&E, for example via NHS 111, GP or ambulance; whether they were kept well informed about what was happening during their visit to A&E; about waiting times, the environment and any follow-up care and support which they received.
Recommendations
- Signage and parking information should be improved.
- The hospital should look at ways to improve staff morale, particularly for A&E reception staff, to make sure that patients are treated kindly and with respect, even when hospital staff are working in stressful circumstances.
- The A&E department should review the ways in which people are kept informed while they are waiting, including the use of volunteers to support patients who are anxious or distressed.
- A leaflet and online information would be helpful to provide patients and their carers with a contact for follow up questions after they leave A&E, and information about the role of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Read our report
If you would like this report in a different format, email enquiries@healthwatchdorset.co.uk or call 0300 111 0102.
File download
Poole Hospital A&E: Local people’s experiences
