by Bernie English
PEOPLE who spent time in University Hospital Limerick this year and were discharged during September are reminded that the closing date for sharing their experiences through the inpatient survey closes this Friday, December 17.
The fourth annual National Inpatient Experience Survey, which is the largest of its kind in Ireland, gives patients the opportunity to share their experiences in hospital and say what improvements they believe are necessary.
The aim is to provide a clear picture of the safety and quality of care in Irish hospitals, as seen through the eyes of patients.
The survey contains questions on topics such as admission to hospital, care and treatment on the ward, trust in hospital staff, respect and dignity and discharge from hospital.
The survey will also ask about patients’ experiences of care during the Covid pandemic, such as staff communication while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as contact with family and friends, given visitor restrictions.
It’s estimated that almost 2,418 patients across the University of Limerick Hospital Group will be eligible to take part.
All patients over 16 years of age who spent 24 hours or more in hospital and were discharged during the month of September are eligible to participate.
Declan McNamara, Director of Nursing, Medicine Directorate, University Hospital Limerick commented: ”Since the last survey in 2019, we have continued to introduce improvements for our patients in response to feedback, including improved menus and the provision of hot meals in our Emergency Department.
“Due to Covid restrictions on visiting in UHL, we provided virtual visits for families to stay in touch with their loved ones. Visiting on compassionate grounds was permitted while adhering to strict Covid regulations.
“We introduced a Patient Belongings hub for collection and drop off of personal items, and a Virtual Shop to enable families to order items virtually. Increased single room capacity has also meant greater privacy and dignity for our patients,” Mr McNamara explained.
Details of the survey are available at www.yourexperience.ie
