NHS Western Isles encourages the public help target service improvements

A random selection of patients who received care in hospital over the last 12 months are being asked about individual experiences of services to help target improvements, through ‘Better Together’.

The third Better Together Inpatient Patient Experience Survey was launched in February 2012, and 668 Western Isles individuals have been sent a questionnaire, which asks for details of the quality of care they received whilst in hospital. Individuals who have received questionnaires are being encouraged to ensure that completed questionnaires are returned in the pre-paid envelope provided by the final deadline of April 27.

Better Together is Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme. It supports the NHS Board, frontline staff and patients in driving forward service improvement. The Better Together Programme highlights a commitment by the Scottish Government and NHS to delivering patient-centred care based on a mutual ethos where staff and patients are co-owners of the NHS and have a greater say in the way services are delivered.

NHS Western Isles received some exceptionally positive results from surveys in 2010 and 2011, and also constructive feedback which has helped us to target areas for improvement.

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive Gordon Jamieson said: “Better Together helps NHS Western Isles to tap into real life patient experience. No one knows more about the experience of receiving care than our patients and it is important to hear their views about the local services and how they experience their care.

“Our aim is that patients have as positive an experience as possible when they are receiving care from NHS Western Isles and we would encourage patients to let us know about their experiences through the Better Together programme.”

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