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

Patient Advice and Liaison Service West Primary Care Trust PCT Wigan Road Lancashire L39 2EY

Tel: 01695 598259 www.westlancspct.nhs.uk 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

270744/234 / 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 Abbey Hospitals Royal Children’s NHS e a y a g r o n g p y i y r r u o o c y q l g

h Abbey Gisburne Park Hospital 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 w f

u Abbey Park Hospital Royal Liverpool Children’s

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 Hospital 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 Aintree Hospitals 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 e University Hospital Aintree Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust Abbey Hospitals, Abbey Gisburne Park Hospital GG G Cardiothoracic Centre – g Hope Hospital Abbey Hospitals, Abbey Park Hospital GG G Liverpool NHS Trust r Cardiothoracic Centre South Manchester University Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGG GG GGG Hospitals NHS Trust Central Manchester and h Wythenshawe Hospital Cardiothoracic Centre - Liverpool NHS Trust G Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust and Ormskirk Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust GGG GGGGGGGGGG t Manchester Royal Infirmary Hospital NHS Trust y Royal Manchester Children’s j Ormskirk and District General Classic Hospitals, Fylde Coast Hospital GG G Hospital Hospital k Southport and Formby District Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Classic Hospitals General Hospital u Fylde Coast Hospital Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust GGGG St Helens and Knowsley Netcare Healthcare, Netcare Mobile Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Hospitals NHS Trust Opthalmology Chain G NHS Foundation Trust l St Helens Hospital i ; Nuffield Hospitals, Lancaster and Lakeland GG G and Whiston Hospital Nuffield Hospital Hospital Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen o Royal Preston Hospital Walton Centre for Neurology University Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGG GGG GGG and Neurosurgery NHS Trust Royal Liverpool Children’s NHS Trust G G G G G G GGGGG Liverpool Women’s Hospital 2) Walton Centre for Neurology NHS Foundation Trust and Neurosurgery Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust G G G G G G G G G G GGG a Liverpool Women’s Hospital Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust G GGGGGGGGGGGGG Nuffield Hospitals NHS Trust s Lancaster and Lakeland Nuffield 2! Leigh Infirmary Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Hospital 2@ Royal Albert Edward Infirmary

St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGG GGGGGG Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Walton Centre for Neurology and University Hospitals NHS Trust Neurosurgery NHS Trust G d Royal Liverpool University Hospital Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG

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.

ABBEY HOSPITALS ABBEY HOSPITALS

2 BARROW-IN-FURNESS ABBEY GISBURNE PARK HOSPITAL ABBEY PARK HOSPITAL

11 LANCASTER

1 M6

BLACKPOOL Gisburn, , Dalton Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, 7 Lancashire BB7 4HX Cumbria LA14 4TP M55 9 M65 Tel: 01200 445693 Tel: 01229 813388 PRESTON www.abbeyhospitals.co.uk www.abbeyhospitals.co.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE CHORLEY This is a 35-bed private hospital near Abbey Park Hospital has 13 beds and SOUTHPORT the town centre offering adult and offers a range of services for adults M6 8 17 M62 child surgery and complimentary and children. These include M66 ORMSKIRK M61 therapies. It specialises in breast and treatments for the mouth, skin, 16 bowel cancer and offers bones, muscles and kidneys. It is A565 M58 22 WIGAN physiotherapy and specialist sports north of the town centre. 6 M60 injury treatment. 21 14 M57 LEIGH MANCHESTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT 3 20 ST HELENS 5 PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: 18 M62 M60 13 19 Nearest train station: Clitheroe, Barrow-in-Furness, one mile. 12 4 12 miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. 10 15 LIVERPOOL M56 Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. M53 PARKING M6 PARKING Free parking available. RUNCORN Free parking available.

CHESTER Your hospitals Your hospitals

AINTREE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST CARDIOTHORACIC CENTRE - CENTRAL MANCHESTER AND CENTRAL MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL NHS TRUST MANCHESTER CHILDREN’S MANCHESTER CHILDREN’S UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AINTREE CARDIOTHORACIC CENTRE MANCHESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY ROYAL MANCHESTER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Lower Lane, Liverpool, Thomas Drive, Liverpool, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL Hospital Road, Pendlebury, Swinton, L9 7AL Merseyside L14 3PE Tel: 0161 276 1234 Manchester M27 4HA Tel: 0151 525 5980 Tel: 0151 228 1616 www.cmmc.nhs.uk Tel: 0161 794 4696 www.aintreehospitals.nhs.uk www.ctc.nhs.uk www.cmmc.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 800-bed Manchester Royal AT A GLANCE The 944-bed University Hospital, The Cardiothoracic Centre, between Infirmary, in central Manchester, This 175-bed hospital, in Pendlebury, Aintree, in north Liverpool, offers Liverpool and Huyton, has developed offers a range of services. These provides specialist healthcare services a wide range of acute healthcare as a centre of excellence and is now include the Manchester Heart for children. It is a centre of services. Specialist services include one of the largest specialist heart and Centre, renal (kidney) medicine excellence in many specialties such as chest medicine and maxillofacial chest hospitals in the United and transplantation, surgery, cancer care, bone marrow (face and upper jaw). Kingdom. The hospital has 220 beds. orthopaedics (bones and joints), ear, transplantation, spinal and plastic nose and throat (ENT) and urology surgery, as well as a centre for PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT (urinary tract). children’s intensive care. Nearest train station: , Nearest train station: Broadgreen, 10 minutes walk. five minutes walk. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: Merseytravel hotline Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: Oxford Road, Nearest train station: Swinton, 0151 236 7676. 10 minutes walk. one mile. PARKING Buses: Greater Manchester Passenger Buses: Greater Manchester Passenger PARKING Charges apply. Transport Exectutive 0161 228 7811. Transport Exectutive 0161 228 7811. Charges apply. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals

CLASSIC HOSPITALS LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

FYLDE COAST HOSPITAL CHORLEY AND SOUTH RIBBLE HOSPITAL

St Walburgas Road, , Preston Road, Chorley, Lancashire FY3 8BP Lancashire PR7 1PP Tel: 01253 394188 Tel: 01257 261222 www.classichospitals.co.uk www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE Fylde Coast Hospital has 39 beds and The 499-bed Chorley and South offers a full range of surgical services. Ribble District Hospital, near Chorley Specialties include heart and nervous town centre, offers a full range of system treatment, rehabilitation and services. It has one of the region’s joint surgery. largest bone and muscle surgery It is near the town centre. centres.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Blackpool Nearest train station: Chorley, North, two miles. one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKING PARKING Free parking available. Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS LIVERPOOL WOMEN’S HOSPITAL NHS NETCARE HEALTHCARE NUFFIELD HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST

ROYAL PRESTON HOSPITAL LIVERPOOL WOMEN’S HOSPITAL NETCARE MOBILE LANCASTER AND LAKELAND OPHTHALMOLOGY CHAIN NUFFIELD HOSPITAL

Sharoe Green Lane North, Fulwood, Crown Street, Liverpool, Tel: 020 7154 7800 Meadowside, Lancaster, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9HT Merseyside L8 7SS www.netcareuk.com Lancashire LA1 3RH Tel: 01772 716565 Tel: 0151 708 9988 Tel: 01524 62345 www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk www.lwh.org.uk AT A GLANCE www.nuffieldhospitals.org.uk Netcare UK's mobile units, used AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE as NHS Treatment Centres, have AT A GLANCE The Royal Preston Hospital, north of This 230-bed hospital, in Liverpool been designed and built to exact This 27-bed city-centre hospital Preston city centre, offers a full range city centre, specialises in the specifications for cataract surgery. offers a wide range of inpatient of hospital services with specialist provision of healthcare for women treatments including orthopaedics units for burns, plastic surgery, and babies. Specialties include: PARKING (bones and joints), ophthalmic (eyes), kidney function and nervous system maternity, neonatology, Parking available at all sites. cosmetic and general surgery. disorders. It has 1,031 beds and also gynaecology, reproductive medicine, provides cancer care. breast surgery and genetics. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Lancaster, PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT less than a mile. Nearest train station: Preston, Nearest train station: Liverpool Lime Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. three miles. Street, five minutes by taxi. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Mersey Travel 0151 236 7676. PARKING Free parking available. PARKING PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND ROYAL LIVERPOOL CHILDREN’S NHS SALFORD ROYAL HOSPITALS NHS SOUTH MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY TRUST TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST ROYAL LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY ROYAL LIVERPOOL CHILDREN’S HOPE HOSPITAL WYTHENSHAWE HOSPITAL HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Prescot Street, Liverpool, Alder Hey Hospital, Eaton Road, West Stott Lane, Salford, Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, Merseyside L7 8XP Derby, Liverpool L12 2AP Lancashire M6 8HD Manchester M23 9LT Tel: 0151 706 2000 Tel: 0151 228 4811 Tel: 0161 789 7373 Tel: 0161 998 7070 www.rlbuht.nhs.uk www.alderhey.com www.srht.nhs.uk www.smuht.nwest.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 998-bed Royal Liverpool This 317-bed hospital provides The 819-bed Hope Hospital is a The Wythenshawe Hospital is a large University Hospital in central general paediatric services for the teaching hospital four miles west teaching hospital with close links to Liverpool specialises in urology locality and specialists for most areas of central Manchester. It offers the University of Manchester. It has (urinary tract), gastroenterology in children’s medicine. Specialties specialist dermatology (skin), 703 beds and provides a full range of (stomach), renal (kidney), include bone marrow transplant, orthopaedic (bones and joints) and surgery for inpatients, outpatients haematology (blood) and burns, cleft lip and palate, cancer, renal (kidney) services. It is a national and day cases. ophthalmology (eyes). It is also kidney replacement, cardiac and treatment centre for intestinal failure. a centre for research. spinal injuries. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest station: Sale, two miles. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Eccles, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: Lime Street, Nearest train station: Broad Green 15 minutes walk. 15 minutes walk. station, one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Buses: Merseytravel hotline Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Limited. Charges apply. 0151 236 7676. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. PARKING Free parking available. No on-site parking. Your hospitals

SOUTHPORT AND ORMSKIRK SOUTHPORT AND ORMSKIRK HOSPITAL NHS TRUST HOSPITAL NHS TRUST

ORMSKIRK AND DISTRICT SOUTHPORT AND FORMBY GENERAL HOSPITAL DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Wigan Road, Ormskirk, Town Lane, Kew, Southport, Lancashire L39 2AZ Merseyside PR8 6PN Tel: 01695 577111 Tel: 01704 547471 www.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk www.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE Ormskirk and District General The Trust's adult A&E and Trauma Hospital, with 150 beds, has a centre services are based at 320-bed for elective surgery, including a Southport and Formby District Treatment Centre where patients can General Hospital, as are all acute have range of tests and treatments in medical services. There is also a full one visit. Also at the hospital are: range of outpatient clinics, as well as children's services, including 24-hour MRI/CT scanning, a Medical/ A&E; women's services; a full range Oncology Day Unit and the North of outpatient clinics; and an Adult West Regional Spinal Unit. Minor Injuries Unit. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Southport, Nearest train station: Ormskirk, 30 minutes walk. 15 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING PARKING Charges apply Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

ST HELENS AND KNOWSLEY ST HELENS AND KNOWSLEY WALTON CENTRE FOR NEUROLOGY WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGH HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST AND NEUROSURGERY NHS TRUST NHS TRUST

ST HELENS HOSPITAL WHISTON HOSPITAL WALTON CENTRE FOR NEUROLOGY LEIGH INFIRMARY AND NEUROSURGERY

Marshalls Cross Road, St Helens, Warrington Road, Prescot, Lower Lane, Liverpool, The Avenue, Leigh, Merseyside WA9 3DA Merseyside L35 5DR Merseyside L9 7LJ Lancashire WN7 1HS Tel: 0151 426 1600 Tel: 0151 426 1600 Tel: 0151 525 3611 Tel: 01942 672333 www.sthkhealth.nhs.uk www.sthkhealth.nhs.uk www.thewaltoncentre.co.uk www.wwl.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE Close to St Helens town centre, the The 739-bed, Whiston Hospital The 130-bed Walton Centre, in The Leigh Infirmary has 87 beds. 232-bed St Helens Hospital provides provides the local population with Liverpool, is the UK’s only single site It provides diagnosis and recovery a wide range of services to the local general medical, surgical, children’s integrated neuroscience (nervous services and elective surgery population. and maternity services. It is also the system) NHS Trust. These services treatment. It is close to Leigh town regional specialist centre for burns are provided on site and supported centre. PUBLIC TRANSPORT and plastic surgery. by a network of satellite clinics. Nearest train station: St Helens PUBLIC TRANSPORT Central, one mile. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Atherton, Buses: Merseytravel hotline Nearest train station: Prescot, Nearest train station: Fazakerley, two miles. 0151 236 7676. 15 minutes walk. 10 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. PARKING PARKING Limited. Charges apply. No on-site parking. On-site parking is available. Free Park and Ride service. Your hospitals

WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGH NHS TRUST

ROYAL ALBERT EDWARD INFIRMARY

Wigan Lane, Wigan, Lancashire WN1 2NN Tel: 01942 244000 www.wwl.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE The Royal Albert Edward Infirmary is a redeveloped hospital with 513 beds providing emergency and acute services. It is close to Wigan town centre.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Wigan Wallgate, 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

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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

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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

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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 Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust ##$ G GGGG GGGG 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 Cardiothoracic Centre - Liverpool NHS Trust ##$ G G G G G GGGG such as information from surveys of staff and have done at getting patients into hospital for Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s ##$ patients. The indicators chosen for publication treatment as quickly as possible. The target University Hospitals NHS Trust G G G G G GGGG in this leaflet are those that the Healthcare they were measured against was six months Lancashire Teaching 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. Liverpool Women’s Hospital 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. Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University published in July 2005 and cover the year Hospitals NHS Trust ### GGG G GGGGG ending 31 March 2005. They place NHS Cancelled operations Royal Liverpool 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 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust ### G G G G G G GGG • 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 Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust ### G G G GGGGGG • Trusts with mostly high levels of performance, but not consistent across all areas, are Outpatient waiting times Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS 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 St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust ### GGGGGG GGG regarding particular areas, Trusts are for a clinic appointment following GP referral. Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust ##$ awarded a rating of one star. The target they were measured against was G G G GGG G G G • Trusts that have shown the poorest levels 13 weeks from GP referral. www.nhs.uk has Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust ### G G G G G G GGG 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?