Survey reveals 71% of patients satisfied with care at University Hospital Limerick

A NATIONAL survey has found that 77% of patients are satisfied with their care at the University of Limerick Hospitals Group. 

More than three out of every four patients who completed the fifth annual National Inpatient Experience Survey have described their overall experience at UL Hospitals Group as good or very good.

Over 920 patients have provided their feedback on University Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital. 

Admitted patients who had spent at least 24 hours in a public hospital were invited to complete the survey, which is led by HIQA in partnership with the HSE and the Department of Health.

The survey included over 60 detailed questions, with UL Hospitals Group achieving a response rate of 40%.

Within UL Hospitals Group as a whole, 77% of surveyed patients rated their overall experience as good or very good in May 2022, compared to a national average of 82%.

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In University Hospital Limerick 71% of patients described their overall experience as good or very good, as did 88% at St John’s Hospital.

William Shire, Interim Head of Operations, University Hospital Limerick, said: "This national survey is one of a number of means through which we gather patient feedback in order to effect quality improvement.

"What patients have told us about their experience in this survey, including long waits for admission, corresponds to what we are hearing through our other feedback channels at UHL.

"We need to now show that we are listening to our patients. Our quality improvement plan sets out a number of measures to improve the experience in ED.

"We have increased the number of staff employed in the Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service and, through our winter plan, we are recruiting more medical and nursing staff to reduce patient experience times".

Noreen Kennedy, Quality and Patient Safety Manager, St John’s Hospital, said: "The findings are again are extremely positive for 2022 and continue to be above the national average.

"In this survey, 88% of our patients said that they had a very good experience with us in St John’s Hospital, with care of patients on the ward highlighted as the highest rated stage of care."