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

Patient Advice and Liaison Service South Primary Care Trust South Leicestershire Primary Care Trust The Woodlands The Pastures Narborough Leicester E19 3DU

Tel: 0116 295 5858 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 O R

270744/189 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 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 Charnwood and North West Queen’s Medical Centre, e a y a g r o n g p y i y r r u o o c y l g

h Leicestershire Primary Care Nottingham University Hospital 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

u Trust NHS Trust

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 q j a

o Ashby Hospital Queen’s Medical Centre 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 w o Coalville Community Hospital 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 e Hospital South Leicestershire Primary Charnwood and North West Leicestershire Care Trust Primary Care Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Derby Hospitals NHS k Fielding Palmer Cottage Hospital Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust GGG GG GGGGGG Foundation Trust r Derby City General Hospital United Lincolnshire Hospitals George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust GG GGGGGGGGG t Derbyshire Royal Infirmary NHS Trust l Grantham and District Hospital Hinckley and Bosworth Primary Care Trust GGGGGGG GGGGGG George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust ; Lincoln County Hospital y George Eliot Hospital 2) Pilgrim Hospital General Hospital NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Hinckley and Bosworth Primary University Hospitals Coventry Melton, and Harborough Primary Care Trust GGGGGGG GGGGGG Care Trust and Warwickshire NHS Trust u Hinckley and District Hospital 2! Coventry and Warwickshire Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust GGGGGGG Hospital and Stamford Hospitals NHS Kettering General Hospital NHS 2@ Hospital of St Cross Foundation Trust GG GGG GGGGGG Trust 2# Walsgrave Hospital Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham i Kettering General Hospital University Hospital NHS Trust GGGG GGGGGG G University Hospitals of Leicester Melton, Rutland and NHS Trust South Leicestershire Primary Care Trust GGGG Harborough Primary Care Trust 2$ Glenfield Hospital o 2% United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust GGG GGGGG GGGG Melton War Memorial Hospital Leicester General Hospital a Rutland Memorial Hospital 2^ Leicester Royal Infirmary University Hospitals Coventry and s St Luke’s Hospital Warwickshire NHS Trust G G G G G G GGGGGGGG University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust G G G G G G G G G G GGGG Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust d Northampton General Hospital

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust f Edith Cavell Hospital g Peterborough District Hospital h Stamford and Rutland Hospital

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.

CHARNWOOD AND NORTH WEST CHARNWOOD AND NORTH WEST LEICESTERSHIRE PRIMARY CARE LEICESTERSHIRE PRIMARY CARE TRUST TRUST ASHBY HOSPITAL COALVILLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

SHEFFIELD LINCOLN 19

M1 NOTTINGHAM BOSTON Leicester Road, Leicester Road, Broom Leys Road, Coalville, 16 20 Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE67 4DE 18 DERBY Leicestershire LE65 1DG Tel: 01530 467400 5 GRANTHAM 4 Tel: 01530 566900 www.cnwlpct.nhs.uk 3 9 ASHBY 1 www.cnwlpct.nhs.uk 2 RUTLAND STAMFORD AT A GLANCE 10 24 15 AT A GLANCE 25 The 96-bed Coalville Community 26 13 PETERBOROUGH 7 LEICESTER Ashby Hospital, near Ashby town Hospital, near Coalville town centre, NUNEATON 14 6 centre, is an old traditional style offers a range of general outpatient 17 11 BIRMINGHAM M6 hospital providing modern day clinical facilities with visiting services, including 16 inpatient beds consultants from the local acute 21 23 COVENTRY KETTERING 22 8 and outpatient facilities for trust. It also provides an X-ray service M5 RUGBY dermatology (skin), ENT (ear nose with open access. and throat), surgery and paediatrics M1 NORTHAMPTON (children). PUBLIC TRANSPORT 12 A1(M) M40 Nearest train station: Loughborough, PUBLIC TRANSPORT 13 miles. Nearest train station: Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Burton on Trent, 10 miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Free parking available. PARKING Phone for details. Your hospitals Your hospitals

CHARNWOOD AND NORTH WEST DERBY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION DERBY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION GEORGE ELIOT HOSPITAL NHS TRUST LEICESTERSHIRE PRIMARY CARE TRUST TRUST TRUST LOUGHBOROUGH HOSPITAL DERBY CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL DERBYSHIRE ROYAL INFIRMARY GEORGE ELIOT HOSPITAL

Hospital Way, off Epinal Way, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Devonshire House, London Road, College Street, Nuneaton, Loughborough, Derbyshire DE22 3NE Derby, Derbyshire DE1 2QY Warwickshire CV10 7DJ Leicestershire LE11 5JY Tel: 01332 340131 Tel: 01332 347141 Tel: 024 7635 1351 Tel: 01509 611600 www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk www.geh.nhs.uk www.cnwlpct.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 442-bed Derby City General The 601-bed Derbyshire Royal The 364-bed George Eliot Hospital, Loughborough Hospital has 95 beds. Hospital is located two miles west of Infirmary, near Derby city centre, on the outskirts of Nuneaton, It offers a full range of outpatient the city centre. The site, which offers a full range of medical, provides the full range of acute clinical facilities with visiting incorporates the Derbyshire rehabilitation and surgical services. It services for inpatients, outpatients consultants from the local acute Children’s Hospital, offers a wide also provides cancer and palliative and day cases. A team from hospital trust. It also provides digital range of medical services. care together with a range of support Walsgrave Hospital performs cataract X-ray, dialysis, day care, and inpatient services. operations. and therapy services. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Derby, PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT three miles. Nearest train station: Derby, Nearest train station: Nuneaton, Nearest train station: Loughborough, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. five minutes walk. three miles. two miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Stagecoach 024 7638 2305. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Charges apply. PARKING PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. Limited free parking. Your hospitals Your hospitals

HINCKLEY AND BOSWORTH KETTERING GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS MELTON, RUTLAND AND MELTON, RUTLAND AND PRIMARY CARE TRUST TRUST HARBOROUGH PRIMARY CARE TRUST HARBOROUGH PRIMARY CARE TRUST

HINCKLEY AND DISTRICT KETTERING GENERAL HOSPITAL MELTON WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL RUTLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Mount Road, Hinckley, Rothwell Road, Kettering, Ankle Hill, Melton Mowbray, Cold Overton Road, Oakham, Leicestershire LE10 1AG Northants NN16 8UZ Leicestershire LE13 0QL Rutland, Leicestershire LE15 6NT Tel: 01455 441800 Tel: 01536 492000 Tel: 01664 854900 Tel: 01572 722552 www.hinckleybosworthpct.nhs.uk www..nhs.uk www.mrh.nhs.uk www.mrh.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE Near Hinckley town centre, the This 532-bed district general hospital The Melton War Memorial Hospital, Rutland Memorial Hospital, near Hinckley and District Hospital offers near Kettering town centre offers a near Melton Mowbray town centre, Oakham town centre, has 21 beds outpatients sevices including surgery, full range of services. A new short- provides the full range of outpatient and a palliative care suite. Its services gynaecology (women’s health), stay surgery centre opens in summer services, X-ray and day case theatre include outpatients, podiatry (foot), orthopaedics (bones and joints), 2006. facilities. dental, occupational therapy, gastroenterology (stomach) and physiotherapy (physical therapy) and paediatrics (children). Its facilities also PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT a day unit for older people. include a day case unit. Nearest train station: Kettering, Nearest train station: Melton one mile. Mowbray, five minutes walk. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: Oakham, Nearest train station, Hinckley, five minutes walk. 15 minutes walk. PARKING PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Charges apply. Free parking available. PARKING PARKING Free parking available. Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

MELTON, RUTLAND AND NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL PETERBOROUGH AND STAMFORD PETERBOROUGH AND STAMFORD HARBOROUGH PRIMARY CARE TRUST NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

ST LUKE'S HOSPITAL NORTHAMPTON GENERAL EDITH CAVELL HOSPITAL PETERBOROUGH DISTRICT HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Leicester Road, Market Harborough, Cliftonville, Northampton, Bretton Gate, Peterborough, Thorpe Road, Peterborough, Leicestershire LE16 7BN Northamptonshire NN1 5BD PE3 9GZ Cambridgeshire PE3 6DA Tel: 01858 410300 Tel: 01604 634700 Tel: 01733 874000 Tel: 01733 874000 www.mrh.nhs.uk www.northamptonshire.nhs.uk/ngh www.peterboroughandstamford.nhs.uk www.peterboroughandstamford.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE St Luke's Hospital, a mile north-west The 700-bed Northampton General This is a 157 bed hospital providing Peterborough District Hospital is a of Market Harborough town centre, Hospital is close to the town centre. It outpatient, day case and elective care 316-bed hospital, providing a full has 27 rehabilitation beds. Other provides a full range of healthcare across a variety of specialties. range of clinical services on an services include physiotherapy, services and is a specialist cancer outpatient, day care and inpatient occupational therapy and palliative centre. PUBLIC TRANSPORT basis. care. Nearest train station: Peterborough, PUBLIC TRANSPORT two miles. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Northampton, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: Peterborough, Nearest train station: Market one mile. 15 minutes walk. Harborough, two miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Limited. Charges apply. PARKING PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. Free parking available. Your hospitals Your hospitals

PETERBOROUGH AND STAMFORD QUEEN’S MEDICAL CENTRE, SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE PRIMARY UNITED LINCOLNSHIRE HOSPITALS HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CARE TRUST NHS TRUST NHS TRUST STAMFORD AND RUTLAND QUEEN’S MEDICAL CENTRE FIELDING PALMER HOSPITAL GRANTHAM AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Ryhall Road, Stamford, University Hospital, Derby Road, Gilmorton Road, , 101 Manthorpe Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire PE9 1UA Nottingham NG7 2UH Leicestershire LE17 4DZ Lincolnshire NG31 8DG Tel: 01780 764151 Tel: 0115 924 9924 Tel: 01455 552150 Tel: 01476 565232 www.peterboroughandstamford.nhs.uk www.qmc.nhs.uk www.ulh.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 14-bed Fielding Palmer Hospital AT A GLANCE The 24-bed Stamford and Rutland This 925-bed teaching hospital, near offers a range of services including a This 240-bed acute hospital, north of Hospital, near Stamford town centre, the centre of Nottingham, provides minor injury unit, physiotherapy Grantham town centre, provides a provides outpatient, day case and acute healthcare services including (physical therapy) department, a range of general services as well as inpatient care. It also has a minor spinal and neurosurgery. It also large intermediate care team, consultant medical and surgical injuries unit. provides maxillofacial surgery and paediatrics (children), neurology specialties. It has an ambulatory various children’s services. (nervous system) and gynaecology paediatric, midwifery led maternity PUBLIC TRANSPORT (women's health). and new outpatients departments. Nearest train station: Stamford, PUBLIC TRANSPORT 20 minutes walk. Nearest train station: Nottingham, PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. two miles. Nearest train stations: Rugby, Nearest train station: Grantham, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. six miles. one mile. PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Free parking available. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. PARKING PARKING Limited. Phone for details. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

UNITED LINCOLNSHIRE HOSPITALS UNITED LINCOLNSHIRE HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS COVENTRY UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS COVENTRY NHS TRUST NHS TRUST AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST

LINCOLN COUNTY HOSPITAL PILGRIM HOSPITAL COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE HOSPITAL OF ST CROSS HOSPITAL

Greetwell Road, Greetwell Road, Sibsey Road, Boston, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, Barby Road, Rugby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN2 5QY Lincolnshire PE21 9QS West Midlands CV1 4FH Warwickshire CV22 5PX Tel: 01522 512512 Tel: 01205 364801 Tel: 024 7622 4055 Tel: 01788 572831 www.ulh.nhs.uk www.ulh.nhs.uk www.uhcw.nhs.uk www.uhcw.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE Lincoln County Hospital is just east of The 524-bed Pilgrim Hospital is The 154-bed Coventry and The 149-bed Hospital of St Cross, Lincoln city centre. It provides all situated north of Boston. It covers Warwickshire Hospital, in Coventry south of Rugby town centre, provides major specialties and has recently most major specialties for inpatients, city centre, provides a variety of acute a variety of services, including an opened a new cancer care unit. outpatients and day cases. Parts of and specialist services. These will orthopaedic (bones and joints) It has 673 beds. the hospital have recently been transfer to a new hospital, which will operating theatre and ward, chest refurbished as part of a £12 million open in 2006. pain clinic and a specialist stroke PUBLIC TRANSPORT redevelopment. ward. Nearest train station: Lincoln, PUBLIC TRANSPORT one mile. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Coventry, PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: Boston, 20 minutes walk. Nearest train station: Rugby, 15 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. one mile. PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Charges apply. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS COVENTRY UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST NHS TRUST

WALSGRAVE HOSPITAL GLENFIELD HOSPITAL

Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, Groby Road, Leicester, West Midlands CV2 2DX Leicestershire LE3 9QP Tel: 024 7660 2020 Tel: 0116 287 1471 www.uhcw.nhs.uk www.uhl-tr.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 891-bed Walsgrave Hospital, in The 417-bed Glenfield Hospital, on north-east Coventry, offers a variety the outskirts of Leicester, offers a of acute medical and surgical range of specialist services. It is a services. The hospital has major centre for cardiac (heart), lung multi-disciplinary teams to treat lung, and respiratory (breathing) medicine breast and gastrointestinal cancers. and has a specialist breast care unit. The new hospital site will open in the summer. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Leicester, PUBLIC TRANSPORT five miles. Nearest train station: Coventry, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. four miles. Buses: Centro hotline 0121 200 2700. PARKING Limited. Phone for details. PARKING Free for the first hour, then charges apply. Your hospitals

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER NHS TRUST NHS TRUST

LEICESTER GENERAL HOSPITAL LEICESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY

Gwendolen Road, Leicester, Infirmary Square, Leicester, Leicestershire LE5 4PW Leicestershire LE1 5WW Tel: 0116 249 0490 Tel: 0116 254 1414 www.uhl-tr.nhs.uk www.uhl-tr.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 627-bed Leicester General The 880-bed Leicester Royal Hospital, three miles east of Leicester Infirmary, close to Leicester city city centre, offers a range of specialist centre, offers a range of specialist services, including stroke care. It is a services. It has cancer and children’s major centre for renal (kidney) and facilities, as well as vascular (blood urology (urinary tract) services. vessels), and emergency medical and surgical care. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Leicester, PUBLIC TRANSPORT three miles. Nearest train station: Leicester, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Limited. Phone for details. 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 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 Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ### G G GGG G GGG 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 George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust #$$ G G G G G GGGG such as information from surveys of staff and have done at getting patients into hospital for patients. The indicators chosen for publication treatment as quickly as possible. The target Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust #$$ G G GGGGGGG in this leaflet are those that the Healthcare they were measured against was six months Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust ##$ Commission and Department of Health believe from the time when the hospital doctor G G G G GGGGG matter most to patients. decided that treatment was necessary. Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals 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. Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust ### G G GGGGGGG published in July 2005 and cover the year ending 31 March 2005. They place NHS Cancelled operations United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust ##$ G G G G GGG GG Trusts in England into one of four This column shows how often your hospitals categories: cancelled booked operations for non-medical University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust ### G GGGGGGGG • 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). University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust ### GGGGGGGGG • Trusts with mostly high levels of performance, but not consistent across all areas, are Outpatient waiting times 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?