Published on: 21 October 2021

A national survey has shown that hospital patients in South Tyneside and Sunderland are highly satisfied with the care they received at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.  

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) was among 137 acute and specialist NHS Trusts which took part in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) 2020 Adult Inpatient Survey, aimed at helping to improve patient experience. 

STSFT has been rated in the top 25% of all Trusts nationally and in the top five Trusts across the whole of the North East and Yorkshire region for the overall experience of care which was rated 8.5 out of 10 by patients.

South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital were in the top 20% nationally for patients feeling treated with dignity and respect (rated 9.4 out of 10).  

The Trust was also the best performing in the North East and Yorkshire for patients having confidence in the nurses treating them (rated 9.4 out of ten).

Other high scores where South Tyneside and Sunderland was rated in the top five across the North East and Yorkshire included:
•    Patients feeling that nurses answered questions in ways they could understand (9.0/10)
•    Patients feeling that hospital staff answered their questions well before they had an operation or procedure (9.3/10)
•    Patients feeling they had enough privacy when being examined or treated (9.6/10).

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust was also rated better than the national average for the length of time patients were on the waiting list for treatment before their admission to hospital (rated 8.3 out of 10).  

The latest available Referral to Treatment (RTT) performance data shows STSFT is amongst the top 25% of Trusts nationally for seeing patients quickly – despite the pressures of the pandemic.

In August 2021, over 85% of patients received their planned treatment within 18 weeks of being referred by their GP – this compares to a national average of 67.6%.

The CQC Adult Inpatient Survey results are a welcome boost for the Trust’s 8,500 strong workforce who have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic with some of the highest COVID-19 infection rates and pressure on NHS services seen locally.

Diane Palmer, Deputy Director of Nursing at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are pleased to see so many people who come to us to receive care as an inpatient have had good experiences during their stay and this is a reflection of the high standards we have as a Trust.

“Understanding the experiences of our patients is vital. We need to know from our patients when we are doing things right and also, very importantly, when we need to improve.

"The adult inpatient survey provides valuable information to help us to do this.

“These results are even more exceptional when we consider the immense pressures that our staff have been under and continue to face as a result of COVID-19.  

"On behalf of all our patients and the communities we serve, we owe all our NHS staff a great deal of gratitude for the outstanding care they provide day-in, day-out.”

Patients aged 16 and over who spent at least one night in South Tyneside District Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital or Sunderland Eye Infirmary during November 2020 were invited to take part.

The questions covered A&E, waiting list and admission, the hospital and ward, the doctors and nurses, care and treatment, operations and procedures and leaving hospital. 

The survey also covered aspects including the hospital environment, if patients had enough to eat and drink, communication with staff, involvement in decisions and dignity and respect.

A total of 547 responses were received. A full copy of the results can be found at https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/surveys/adult-inpatient-survey-2020

The CQC Adult Inpatient Survey is part of a wider programme of NHS patient surveys and also complements the Trust’s own patient experience feedback programme.

The CQC results are used in the regulation, monitoring and inspection of NHS acute trusts in England.