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For more help with choosing your hospital, contact: Choosing your hospital

Patient Advice and Liaison Service South Primary Care Trust Westgate House Market Street CV34 4DE

Tel: 01926 478110 P H O T O G R A P H Y C O P Y R I G H T : A L A M Y , G E T T Y , J O H N B I R D S A L L , N H S L I B R A

A copy of this booklet is also R Y , R E X

available on: www.nhs.uk , S P L , Z E F A / C

270744/194 O R B I © Crown copyright 2005. S What is patient choice? Things to think about If you and your GP decide that you need to see a specialist Where can I go for treatment? for further treatment, you can now choose where to have You might already have experience of a particular hospital or know someone who has. Now you can choose – where would you like to go? Or, if you like, your treatment from a list of hospitals or clinics. From April, your GP can recommend a hospital where you can be treated. you may have an even bigger choice – full details will be How do I find out more information on the NHS website (www.nhs.uk). about my condition? Your GP should be able to give you the answers to some of the questions This guide explains more about how the process works. you have. Or contact NHS Direct: visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call It also gives you answers to some questions you may have. 0845 4647 and ask to speak to a health information advisor. Plus, there are details of the hospitals you can choose and How long will it take? some information to help you choose the one that will be How quickly do you want to be treated? Would you be willing to travel best for you. If you need more help, details of your local further away if it meant you could be treated quicker? support services are on the back of this booklet. Where’s closest? You might want to think about how you will get to hospital. Who will take As well as the hospitals listed in this booklet, your GP may you there and pick you up when your treatment is finished? If you are going also be able to refer you to community-based services, to stay in hospital for a while, do you want to be close to family or friends? such as GPs with Special Interests or community clinics. Where’s best for me? Alternatively, if your GP decides to refer you to a Clinical Different people have different priorities. You know what’s most important for you – hospital cleanliness or location, for example. This booklet gives you Assessment Service and you then need to go to hospital, an overall idea of what each hospital is like, so you can work out which one you will be able to choose from this list of hospitals. suits you. If you want to find out more visit www.nhs.uk, the NHS website. Your questions answered Making your choice

Why would I want to choose which Is there help available for my travel You may already have a clear idea as to where you would like to be treated. If so, this hospital treats me? arrangements to get to hospital? booklet will give you more information on the hospital you have chosen. If you haven’t made If you choose which hospital you are treated If your GP or the person who has referred you up your mind, you could: in, you can make sure that you go to the determines that you have a medical need for place that will best suit your needs. transport to get to hospital, patient transport Find out what your choices are services should be provided. You may also Talk to your GP or local support services about the choices that are available to What if I don’t want to choose? have your travel expenses paid through the you and where you can get more information and support. You do not have to make the decision Hospital Travel Costs Scheme, if you get Get the information you need yourself. If you prefer, your GP can still Jobseeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credit, make the choice for you and recommend Child Tax Credit or Pension Credit. This guide should give you most of the information you need to help you make a hospital for your treatment. your choice. For more details visit www.nhs.uk, the NHS website. Which hospital should I choose? Talk it through with someone else What if I don’t want to go to a The hospitals you can choose from will depend You may want to discuss your choices with family or friends, especially if you different hospital? on the type of specialist you need to see. This are going to need their help with travel or care after your treatment. You don’t have to. If you would rather visit booklet shows you which hospitals carry out Weigh up the pros and cons the hospital that you usually go to, then you the treatment you need (Where can I have my can make that choice. treatment?). The table How does your Hospital Consider your needs and compare each hospital using the information you have, Trust score? gives you more information about bearing in mind what is most important to you. Is patient choice offered for all these hospitals and will help you make a Book your appointment medical conditions? choice that best suits you. You will be advised how to book your hospital appointment. Once you have A choice of hospital is available for most decided where you want to go, follow this guidance. And don’t be afraid to ask medical conditions. However, not all What happens if I change my mind? if you need help with booking an appointment. hospitals treat every medical condition If you decide that you do not want to be and some patients may need a more treated at the hospital where you have your specialist service. first appointment, you can go back to your GP, who will go through the other options If I need treatment after my first available to you. appointment, will I be treated at Your hospitals the same hospital? Where can I get the information I need In most cases you will. But if you need very to help me make my choice? The next few pages will help you decide which hospital will be best for you: specialised treatment, you may have to go If you want to know something that isn’t to another hospital. covered in this guide, or you want more Where can I have my treatment? shows which Hospital Trusts treat advice, you can talk to your GP or other which conditions. There are descriptions of each of your local hospitals Will I have to pay? local support services. You’ll find the details and how to get to them. No, not as an NHS patient. All the hospitals of your local support services on the back The map shows where each hospital is. listed provide services to NHS patients. As cover of this booklet. You may also want to How do your hospitals score? gives ratings for each Hospital Trust, long as you choose one of the hospitals talk things through with family and friends. so that you can compare their performance in nine different categories. listed in this booklet, you won’t have to pay. For further information you can visit www.nhs.uk, the NHS website. Where can I have my treatment? Hospital Trusts

Use the chart below to check which hospitals provide the service you need. In addition Hospital Trusts are NHS organisations that manage hospitals. There may be more than to the hospitals listed, your GP may be able to refer you to community-based or other one hospital in a single Trust. The NHS collects information at Trust level, so a lot of services. Ask him or her what’s available in your local area. He or she will also advise information is listed by Trust, not individual hospital. you if the service you need is not listed. Specialty name The list shows which hospitals are in which Hospital Trust. s c i y r d t e e Children’s Hospital Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS e a y a g r o n g p y i y r r u o o c y l g

h NHS Trust Trust s i e h

t g o t y o y d g l r r o o r g g e l l & o s o e l

y q d

u Birmingham Children’s Hospital Royal Orthopaedic Hospital

o y i o t o c l l m s g i t x e m g

n & r l o o l l o

s a a y t o e t l c a l a a a o a g o a o r r e m m h i o i r n - o t m e e r a

t u d l l m d , u h s n n u n r e r e r a o Birmingham Women’s Health South Warwickshire General a e y e a e r p r e a h a a r E C D G G G G N O P R T U Hospital provider O Care NHS Trust Hospitals NHS Trust w Birmingham Women’s Hospital f Warwick Hospital Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Trust G Birmingham Women’s Health Care NHS Trust G Hospital NHS Trust University Hospital Birmingham e George Eliot Hospital NHS Foundation Trust g George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust GGGGGGGGG GGGG Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS h Selly Oak Hospital Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGG GGGGGG Foundation Trust r Cheltenham General Hospital University Hospitals Coventry Heart of NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG and Warwickshire NHS Trust Heart of England NHS j Coventry and Warwickshire Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust G Foundation Trust Hospital t Birmingham Heartlands Hospital k Walsgrave Hospital Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGG GG y Hospital Acute Hospitals Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust G Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust NHS Trust l Alexandra Hospital South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust G G G G G GGGGGGGGG u Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre ; Worcestershire Royal Hospital University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGG GGG GG Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS University Hospitals Coventry and Trust Warwickshire NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG i Churchill Hospital Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust G G G GGGGGGGGGGG o Horton Hospital a John Radcliffe Hospital s Radcliffe Infirmary

This data was correct at the time of going to print and may be subject to amendments. Find your hospital Your hospitals

The numbers on this map refer to the numbers on the hospital list on the previous page.

BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM WOMEN’S HEALTH NHS TRUST CARE NHS TRUST

BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S BIRMINGHAM WOMEN’S HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, Metchley Park Road, West B4 6NH Edgbaston, Birmingham, Tel: 0121 333 9999 B15 2TG www.bch.org.uk Tel: 0121 472 1377 www.bwhct.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE This 204-bed hospital, in the city AT A GLANCE centre, provides a range of general This 176-bed hospital, in Edgbaston, and specialist services to children and specialises in services for women and adolescents, including liver babies from the West Midlands. transplantation, cardiac surgery and Specialties include gynaecology, neonatal surgery. It also houses a maternity, fertility, neonatal intensive 20-bed intensive treatment unit. care and genetics.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Snow Hill, Nearest train station: University 10 minutes walk. Station, five minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKING PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

GEORGE ELIOT HOSPITAL NHS TRUST GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS HEART OF ENGLAND NHS HEART OF ENGLAND NHS FOUNDATION TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST

GEORGE ELIOT HOSPITAL CHELTENHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM HEARTLANDS SOLIHULL HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

College Street, , Sandford Road, Cheltenham, Bordesley Green East, Lode Lane, Solihull, Warwickshire CV10 7DJ Gloucestershire GL53 7AN Bordesley Green, Birmingham, West Midlands B91 2JL Tel: 024 7635 1351 Tel: 08454 222222 West Midlands B9 5SS Tel: 0121 424 2000 www.geh.nhs.uk www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk Tel: 0121 424 2000 www.heartofengland.nhs.uk www.heartofengland.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 364-bed George Eliot Hospital, This 400-bed hospital, in the centre AT A GLANCE The 350-bed Solihull Hospital, in the on the outskirts of Nuneaton, of Cheltenham, provides general The 514-bed Heartlands Hospital, in centre of Solihull, provides a full provides a full range of acute services hospital services and specialises in east Birmingham, provides the full range of services, including for inpatients, outpatients and day cancer care. It also provides services range of services, including outpatient clinics, inpatient services cases. A team from Walsgrave such as angioplasty (vein) and outpatient clinics, inpatient services and day surgery. Specialties include Hospital performs cataract ophthalmology (eye) treatment. and day surgery. Specialties include heart surgery and cancer care. operations. heart surgery and cancer care. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Cheltenham PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Solihull, Nearest train station: Nuneaton, Spa, 20 minutes walk. Nearest train station: New Street, 20 minutes walk. three miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. five miles. Buses: Centro hotline Buses: Stagecoach 024 7638 2305. Buses: Centro hotline 0121 200 2700. PARKING 0121 200 2700. PARKING Charges apply. PARKING Charges apply. PARKING Free for the first 15 minutes, then Free for the first 15 minutes, then charges apply. charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

NUFFIELD ORTHOPAEDIC CENTRE OXFORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITALS OXFORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITALS OXFORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST NHS TRUST NHS TRUST NHS TRUST

NUFFIELD ORTHOPAEDIC CENTRE CHURCHILL HOSPITAL HORTON HOSPITAL JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL

Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford, Old Road, Headington, Oxford, Oxford Road, , Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7LD Oxfordshire OX3 7LJ Oxfordshire OX16 9AL Oxfordshire OX3 9DU Tel: 01865 741155 Tel: 01865 741841 Tel: 01295 275500 Tel: 01865 741166 www.noc.nhs.uk www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 140-bed Nuffield Orthopaedic Churchill Hospital, three miles east of Horton Hospital, in Banbury, has 236 The John Radcliffe Hospital in Centre, north-east of Oxford, Oxford city centre, has 330 beds. Its beds. Its services include surgery, Headington, three miles east of specialises in the prevention or specialties include cancer, renal trauma and gynaecology, Oxford city centre, has 790 beds. Its correction of injuries or disorders to (kidney) services and transplants, orthopaedics (bones and joints), services include surgery, trauma, the skeletal system and associated dermatology (skin) and haemophilia obstetrics (pregnancy), paediatrics paediatrics (children), obstetrics muscles, joints, and ligaments. It also (blood), chest medicine, infectious (children), coronary care (heart) and (pregnancy), gynaecology (women’s specialises in disability and diseases, medical genetics and cancer services. health) and cardiac (heart) services. rehabilitation services. palliative care. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Banbury, Nearest train station: Oxford, Nearest train station: Oxford, Nearest train station: Oxford, 15 minutes walk. three miles. three miles. three miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. Limited. Charges apply. Limited. Phone for details. Your hospitals Your hospitals

OXFORD RADCLIFFE HOSPITALS ROYAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE GENERAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM NHS TRUST NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

RADCLIFFE INFIRMARY ROYAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL WARWICK HOSPITAL QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL

Woodstock Road, Oxford, Road South, Northfield, Lakin Road, Warwick, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Oxfordshire OX2 6HE Birmingham, West Midlands B31 2AP Warwickshire CV34 5BW Egbaston, Birmingham, Tel: 01865 311188 Tel: 0121 685 4000 Tel: 01926 495321 West Midlands B15 2TH www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk www.roh.nhs.uk www.warwickhospital.nhs.uk Tel: 0121 472 1311 www.uhb.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 277-bed Radcliffe Infirmary, in The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Warwick Hospital, north of Warwick AT A GLANCE central Oxford, specialises in ENT specialises in orthopaedics (bones city centre, is a 425-bed hospital The 553-bed Queen Elizabeth (ear, nose and throat), and joints). Five miles outside covering a range of day case, Hospital, three miles south of ophthalmology (eyes), neurology Birmingham city centre, it has 140 inpatient, outpatient and maternity Birmingham city centre, covers a (nervous system) and genito-urinary beds, a 25-bed children's ward and a services. The hospital’s services have range of specialties. These include a medicine. It also offers neurosurgery, 13-bed high dependency unit. changed to support people kidney programme and specialist cranio-facial, plastic and recovering at home. cancer and cardiac (heart) critical care reconstructive surgery. PUBLIC TRANSPORT units. Nearest train station: Selly Oak, PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT one mile. Nearest train station: Warwick, PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Oxford, Buses: Centro hotline five minutes walk. Nearest train station: University, 15 minutes walk. 0121 200 2700. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. five minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Centro hotline PARKING PARKING 0121 200 2700. PARKING Free parking available. Charges apply. Limited. Phone for details. PARKING Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS HOSPITALS COVENTRY WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST NHS TRUST

SELLY OAK HOSPITAL COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE WALSGRAVE HOSPITAL ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Raddlebarn Road, Birmingham, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, Woodrow Drive, Woodrow, West Midlands B29 6JD West Midlands CV1 4FH West Midlands CV2 2DX , Worcestershire B98 7UB Tel: 0121 627 1627 Tel: 024 7622 4055 Tel: 024 7660 2020 Tel: 01527 503030 www.uhb.nhs.uk www.uhcw.nhs.uk www.uhcw.nhs.uk www.worcestershirehealth.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 486-bed Selly Oak Hospital, near The 154-bed Coventry and The 891-bed Walsgrave Hospital, in Four miles from central Redditch, the the centre of Selly Oak, has the Warwickshire Hospital, in Coventry north-east Coventry, offers a variety 324-bed Alexandra Hospital offers a trust’s main outpatients clinic, city centre, provides a variety of acute of acute medical and surgical range of services. It is partner to general medicine departments, and specialist services. These will services. The hospital has Worcestershire Royal and the therapy services and elderly care. transfer to a new hospital, which will multi-disciplinary teams to treat lung, Kidderminster Treatment Centre. An It also has one of the few national open in 2006. breast and gastrointestinal cancers. orthopaedic (bones and joints) facility burns units in England. The new hospital site will open in the is to open in 2006. PUBLIC TRANSPORT summer. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Coventry, PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Selly Oak, 20 minutes walk. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Redditch, 20 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: Coventry, four miles. Buses: Centro hotline four miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. 0121 200 2700. PARKING Buses: Centro hotline Charges apply. 0121 200 2700. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. PARKING Free for the first hour, then charges apply. Your hospitals

WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

WORCESTERSHIRE ROYAL HOSPITAL

Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 1DD Tel: 01905 763333 www.worcestershirehealth.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE The 491-bed Worcestershire Royal Hospital, near Worcester town centre, offers a full range of outpatient and inpatient clinical services. It covers all specialties.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Worcester Forgate Street, one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKING Limited. Charges apply. How does your Hospital Trust score? What do the ratings mean?

Check against the coloured chart to see how your Hospital Trust measures up. Go to the next page for more on what these ratings mean.

Healthcare Commission statistics Patients’ views The overall ratings A new approach to assess and report on the

s The Healthcare Commission is the independent performance of healthcare organisations has t e r s

Excellent o e m f i s

d regulator of healthcare, and is responsible for been developed for 2006, which looks at a

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much broader range of issues. In Autumn 2006,

v assessing and reporting on the performance f t n t G a i i n i d o r n l o i r

a a t n e o n t i p Average i a of healthcare organisations on an annual the Healthcare Commission will publish the

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c n e o G s e t

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t e basis. For NHS Trusts, this involves issuing assessment of the performance of healthcare t l Below average e e n a e i n n l

i a a i t l

G g l e s g t i i e a s m A a n t n an annual performance rating. This overall organisations for England for the year ending c r i p p e S n a a t

Poor t s n o c e a R p f a u o c a G l n n

R rating is made up of a number of performance March 2006. C O M H I M A I C indicators. The indicators show how Trusts are doing in relation to some of the main targets Healthcare Commission statistics Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Trust ### G G G GGG n/a n/a n/a set by the Government for the NHS, as well Inpatient waiting times as other broader measures of performance, This column shows how well your hospitals Birmingham Women’s Health Care NHS Trust ##$ G G G G G G GGG such as information from surveys of staff and have done at getting patients into hospital for patients. The indicators chosen for publication treatment as quickly as possible. The target George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust #$$ G G G G G GGGG in this leaflet are those that the Healthcare they were measured against was six months Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ### Commission and Department of Health believe from the time when the hospital doctor G G G GGGGGG matter most to patients. decided that treatment was necessary. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust ### G G G G G G G GG www.nhs.uk has the latest waiting times The 2005 NHS performance ratings were information. Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust ### G GGG GGGGG published in July 2005 and cover the year ending 31 March 2005. They place NHS Cancelled operations Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust ##$ G G G GGGGGG Trusts in England into one of four This column shows how often your hospitals categories: cancelled booked operations for non-medical Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust ### GGGGGGGGG • Trusts with the highest levels of performance reasons (e.g. equipment being out of action, are awarded a rating of three stars. no bed being available or staff being away). South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust #$$ G G G G G GGGG • Trusts with mostly high levels of performance, but not consistent across all areas, are Outpatient waiting times University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust ### G G G G G G GGG awarded a rating of two stars. This column shows how well your hospitals • Where there is some cause for concern have done at getting patients into hospital University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust ### G GGGGGGGG regarding particular areas, Trusts are for a clinic appointment following GP referral. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust #$$ awarded a rating of one star. The target they were measured against was G G GGGGGGG • Trusts that have shown the poorest levels 13 weeks from GP referral. www.nhs.uk has of performance receive a rating of zero stars. the latest waiting times information.

If a Trust has a low rating because of poor Management of risk performance on a number of key targets and All hospitals need to make sure they are indicators, this does not mean that a hospital reducing the possibility of things going wrong is unsafe, that it does not contain some very and, if something does go wrong, making good clinical services or that the staff are not sure it won’t happen again. The Department working hard in often difficult circumstances. of Health issues standards to help hospitals It does mean that performance must be achieve this, and this column shows how well improved in a number of key areas. your services have done on achieving these.

Though regulated by the Healthcare Commission, published performance ratings for Independent Sector Treatment Centres and private hospitals are not currently available. Please turn the page for an explanation of the other ratings. For more information, please see individual hospitals' websites, www.dh.gov.uk or www.healthcarecommission.org.uk What does the medical jargon mean?

Here’s a guide to some of the medical language used in this booklet.

Hospital cleanliness How long did you wait to be seen after you What’s a specialty? Once a year, hospitals have to assess their had arrived in outpatients? Were the reasons There are several different specialties, each with its own team of doctors. levels of cleanliness and report them to the for any waits explained? For example, some doctors will specialise in treating orthopaedics (bones Department of Health. This column shows and joints), while others will specialise in ophthalmology (eyes). how your hospitals have done. Cleanliness and comfort How clean were the outpatient department What’s an outpatient appointment? MRSA infection and toilets? Was it easy to find your way An outpatient appointment is when you visit the hospital to see a doctor One of the things that patients are most around? Patients were also asked how they who will examine you so that she or he can diagnose what the problem is worried about is catching the infection MRSA felt the hospital staff had treated them – for and think about what the best treatment will be. (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). example, did hospital staff talk in front of you It can be a very nasty infection, but it is as if you were not there, and did staff respect What’s a day case? actually quite rare in comparison to the your privacy? Simple treatments are often done as day cases. This means you will not number of patients who receive hospital care normally stay overnight. each year. People do not always catch it in Information provided hospital – they may already have it before they Patients were asked questions about how What’s inpatient treatment? enter hospital. But hospitals have to record all satisfied they were with information they Inpatient treatment is when you go into hospital to have your treatment MRSA bloodstream infections, whether or not received. Were the reasons for tests or and stay overnight. patients have contracted them in hospital. treatment explained? Were you told what This column gives an indication of the number to expect? Were you given information about What’s elective treatment? of cases of MRSA bloodstream infections and the medication that was prescribed for you? Most treatment is routine or ‘elective’. This simply means your treatment whether the Hospital Trust has been successful Were you given the name of someone you is planned in advance rather than you needing emergency treatment. in reducing the number of cases since last could contact if you were concerned after Routine treatment usually takes place during normal working hours, year. MRSA rates may vary depending on the you left? although occasionally some hospitals work at weekends. type of patients the hospital treats. You can find out more about MRSA infection from the About the Healthcare Commission What’s a GP with a Special Interest? Department of Health website (www.dh.gov.uk), The Healthcare Commission exists to promote Sometimes, rather than going to a hospital or clinic, you may be able to which includes a complete breakdown of all improvements in the quality of healthcare and choose to be treated by a GP with a Special Interest. These are GPs who Trusts’ rates and A simple guide to MRSA. Or public health in England. It has a wide range have extensive training and experience in their specialty as well as their visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, the NHS Direct of responsibilities, all aimed at improving the GP qualifications. website. quality of healthcare. These responsibilities include assessing the performance of healthcare What patients said organisations, awarding annual performance In 2005 the Healthcare Commission published ratings for the NHS and coordinating reviews the results of a survey of patients who had of healthcare by others. For more information attended outpatient clinics. These columns about the Healthcare Commission, go to include the results against questions that asked: www.healthcarecommission.org.uk or ring 0845 601 3012. Access and waiting How long did you have to wait for an appointment to be seen in a hospital clinic? Was the appointment cancelled? Were you given a choice of times for your appointment?