For more help with choosing your hospital, contact: Choosing your hospital
The Patient Choice adviser at your GP’s surgery Chesterfield Primary Care Trust 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 270744/046 A / C 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 Chesterfield Royal Hospital Rotherham General Hospitals e a y a g r o n g p y i y r r u o o c y l g
h NHS Foundation Trust NHS 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 a
u Chesterfield Royal Hospital Rotherham General 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 Derby Hospitals Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust 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 NHS Foundation Trust s Sheffield Children’s Hospital w Derby City General Hospital Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG e Derbyshire Children’s Hospital Sheffield Teaching Hospitals r Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Derbyshire Royal Infirmary NHS Foundation Trust d Charles Clifford Dental Hospital Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals Doncaster and Bassetlaw f Jessop Wing NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust g Northern General Hospital Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust G GGGGG GGGGG t Bassetlaw Hospital h Royal Hallamshire Hospital y Doncaster Royal Infirmary j Weston Park Hospital Partnership Health Group, Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre G Nottingham City Hospital Sherwood Forest Hospitals Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG NHS Trust NHS Trust u Nottingham City Hospital k King’s Mill Hospital Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG l Newark Hospital Partnership Health Group Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust GGGGGG GGGGGG i Barlborough NHS Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Treatment Centre ; Stepping Hill Hospital Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGG GGG Queen’s Medical Centre, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Nottingham University Hospital Stockport NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG NHS Trust o Queen’s Medical Centre
This data was correct at the time of going to print and may be subject to amendments. 7
Find your hospital Your hospitals
The numbers on this map refer to the numbers on the hospital list on the previous page.
CHESTERFIELD ROYAL HOSPITAL DERBY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
CHESTERFIELD ROYAL HOSPITAL DERBY CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL M180
M60 DONCASTER 6 A628 ROTHERHAM 14 M18 STOCKPORT 10 A1(M) 19 16 11 SHEFFIELD 12 15 13 M1 5 WORKSOP TOWN 8 STAVELEY CHESTERFIELD 1 Calow, Chesterfield,55 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Derbyshire S44 5BL Derbyshire DE22 3NE Tel: 01246 277271 Tel: 01332 340131 17 www.chesterfieldroyal.nhs.uk www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD NEWARK 18 AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE M1 This 534-bedM23 A542 hospital provides a full The 442-bed Derby City General 7 range of services, 24-hour A&E cover Hospital is located two miles west NOTTINGHAM and many specialist children’s of the city centre. The site, which DERBY 9 3 4 community services. It also offers incorporates the Derbyshire 2 surgery, medical physics, obstetrics Children’s Hospital, offers a wide and gynaecology. range of medical services.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Chesterfield, Nearest train station: Derby, 20 minutes walk. three miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.
PARKING PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals
DERBY HOSPITALS DERBY HOSPITALS DONCASTER AND BASSETLAW DONCASTER AND BASSETLAW NHS FOUNDATION TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
DERBYSHIRE DERBYSHIRE ROYAL INFIRMARY BASSETLAW HOSPITAL DONCASTER ROYAL INFIRMARY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Uttoxeter Road, Derby, London Road, Derby, Kilton Hill, Worksop, Armthorpe Road, Doncaster, Derbyshire DE22 3NE Derbyshire DE1 2QY Nottinghamshire S81 0BD South Yorkshire DN2 5LT Tel: 01332 340131 Tel: 01332 347141 Tel: 01909 500990 Tel: 01302 366666 www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk www.dbh.nhs.uk www.dbh.nhs.uk
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The Derbyshire Children’s Hospital, The 601-bed Derbyshire Royal Close to the town centre, the One mile from the town centre, the two miles west of the city centre, is Infirmary, near Derby city centre, 250-bed Bassetlaw Hospital provides 850-bed Doncaster Royal Infirmary a purpose-built unit for children. offers a full range of medical, a range of clinical services. It has new has a full range of local clinical Facilities include emergency, rehabilitation and surgical services. stroke, coronary (heart) care and services. It has new stroke and renal outpatients, day-care and neonatal It also provides cancer and palliative dermatology (skin) units as well as a (kidney) dialysis units and a breast intensive care. The hospital has care together with a range of day surgery unit. care centre. 98 beds. support services. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Worksop, Nearest train station: Doncaster, Nearest train station: Peartree, Nearest train station: Derby, one mile. one mile. two miles. five minutes walk. 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. Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals
NOTTINGHAM CITY HOSPITAL PARTNERSHIP HEALTH GROUP QUEEN’S MEDICAL CENTRE, ROTHERHAM GENERAL HOSPITALS NHS TRUST NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS TRUST NHS TRUST NOTTINGHAM CITY HOSPITAL BARLBOROUGH QUEEN’S MEDICAL CENTRE ROTHERHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS TREATMENT CENTRE
Hucknall Road, Nottingham, 2 Lindrick Way, Barlborough, Derby Road, Nottingham, Moorgate Road, Rotherham, Nottinghamshire NG5 1PB Chesterfield, Derbyshire S43 4XE Nottinghamshire NG7 2UH South Yorkshire S60 2UD Tel: 0115 969 1169 Tel: 0845 201 0850 Tel: 0115 924 9924 Tel: 01709 820000 www.ncht.org.uk www.qmc.nhs.uk www.rotherhamhospital.trent.nhs.uk
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE This 1,110-bed hospital is a large This orthopaedic treatment centre This 925-bed teaching hospital, near This 800-bed general hospital is acute teaching trust situated north of serves 28 primary care trusts across the centre of Nottingham, provides based a mile and a half south of the city. It provides a wide range of Trent and South Yorkshire. Operation acute healthcare services including Rotherham. It covers all major inpatient, outpatient and day-care dates are set within four weeks of spinal and neurosurgery. It also specialties for inpatients and services. Specialties include kidney referral and there is a comprehensive provides maxillofacial surgery and outpatients and manages the full transplantation and cancer care. aftercare service. The centre has 40 various children’s services. ophthalmology (eyes) services of beds. Barnsley. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Bulwell, PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Nottingham, PUBLIC TRANSPORT 30 minutes walk. Nearest train station: Whitwell, two miles. Nearest train station: Rotherham Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. two miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Central, two miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: South Yorkshire Travel PARKING PARKING Information 01709 515151. Limited. Charges apply. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Free parking available. PARKING Charges apply. Your hospitals
SHEFFIELD CHILDREN’S NHS TRUST SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
SHEFFIELD CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARLES CLIFFORD DENTAL HOSPITAL
Western Bank, Sheffield, 76 Wellesley Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TH South Yorkshire S10 2SZ Tel: 0114 271 7000 Tel: 0114 271 7800 www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk www.sth.nhs.uk
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE This 140-bed hospital in Sheffield city The Charles Clifford Dental Hospital centre is one of only eight specialist provides specialist dental services for children’s hospitals in the country. It the locality. It is situated next to the provides a full range of specialist care Royal Hallamshire Hospital and is a for children up to 16 years of age. teaching unit linked to the University School of Clinical Dentistry. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Sheffield, PUBLIC TRANSPORT one mile. Nearest train station: Sheffield, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals
SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
JESSOP WING NORTHERN GENERAL HOSPITAL ROYAL HALLAMSHIRE HOSPITAL WESTON PARK HOSPITAL
Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, Herries Road, Sheffield, Glossop Road, Sheffield, Whitham Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2SF South Yorkshire S5 7AU South Yorkshire S10 2JF South Yorkshire S10 2SJ Tel: 0114 271 1900 Tel: 0114 243 4343 Tel: 0114 271 1900 Tel: 0114 226 5000 www.sth.nhs.uk www.sth.nhs.uk www.sth.nhs.uk www.sth.nhs.uk
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 262-bed Jessop Wing combines This 1,200-bed teaching hospital, in This 750-bed teaching hospital, a The Weston Park hospital, west of together the old Jessop Hospital for the north of the city, provides a full mile and a half from the city centre, the city centre, specialises in the Women and the women’s services range of services. It has specialist provides a variety of services treatment of cancer and is a purpose- that were previously provided at the heart, kidney, general surgery and including cataract surgery, built specialist cancer hospital. It has Northern General Hospital. Services orthopaedic (bones and joints) units. neurology, rheumatology and 93 beds. include gynaecology, obstetrics, general surgery. It is also home to neonatology and assisted conception PUBLIC TRANSPORT the city’s women’s hospital. PUBLIC TRANSPORT (fertility). Nearest train station: Sheffield Nearest train station: Sheffield, Midland, three miles. PUBLIC TRANSPORT one mile. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: South Yorkshire Travel Nearest train station: Sheffield Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: Sheffield, Information 01709 515151. Midland, one mile. one mile. Nearest Sheffield Supertram: PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING University, five minutes walk. Limited. Charges apply. Charges apply. Buses: South Yorkshire Travel PARKING Information 01709 515151. Limited. Charges apply. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals
SHERWOOD FOREST HOSPITALS SHERWOOD FOREST HOSPITALS STOCKPORT NHS NHS TRUST NHS TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST
KING’S MILL HOSPITAL NEWARK HOSPITAL STEPPING HILL HOSPITAL
Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Boundary Road, Newark, Poplar Grove, Stockport, Nottinghamshire NG17 4JL Nottinghamshire NG24 4DE Cheshire SK2 7JE Tel: 01623 622515 Tel: 01636 681681 Tel: 0161 483 1010 www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk www.stockport.nhs.uk
AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 588-bed King’s Mill Hospital is The 102-bed Newark Hospital is near The 886-bed Stepping Hill Hospital, midway between Mansfield and the city centre and is supported by south of Stockport, provides acute Ashfield town centre. It offers a wide the bigger King's Mill Hospital. It care for children and adults across range of services and is currently offers a wide range of medical and Stockport and the High Peak. undergoing a major redevelopment. surgical services. A major development is currently underway on the site. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Mansfield, Nearest train station: Newark PUBLIC TRANSPORT two miles. North Gate, one mile. Nearest train station: Woodsmoor, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. 10 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. PARKING 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
G t m
k n s e m i s g s t g o i d o
i i n r Good e n c t i
g i
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
p w a t n w a
c n e o G s e t
l d w s e o
c n i f d n m
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 Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust ### G G GGG G G GG 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 Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ### G G GGG 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 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ### G G GGGG GGG in this leaflet are those that the Healthcare they were measured against was six months Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust ### Commission and Department of Health believe from the time when the hospital doctor G G GGGGGGG matter most to patients. decided that treatment was necessary. Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham University www.nhs.uk has the latest waiting times Hospital NHS Trust ### G G G G G G G GG The 2005 NHS performance ratings were information. Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust ### G G GGG G G G G published in July 2005 and cover the year ending 31 March 2005. They place NHS Cancelled operations Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust ### G G G G GGn/a n/a n/a Trusts in England into one of four This column shows how often your hospitals categories: cancelled booked operations for non-medical Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation 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). Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust ### G G G GGGGGG • Trusts with mostly high levels of performance, but not consistent across all areas, are Outpatient waiting times Stockport 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 regarding particular areas, Trusts are for a clinic appointment following GP referral. awarded a rating of one star. The target they were measured against was • 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?