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

Fylde Coast Booking and Choice Centre Primary Care Trust Blackpool PCT Blackpool Stadium Seasiders Way Blackpool FY1 6JX

Tel: 01253 651250 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 270744/017 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 Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen e a y a g r o n g p y i y r r u o o c y l g

h Hospitals NHS Trust University Hospitals 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

u Blackpool Victoria Hospital Royal Liverpool University

o y i o t o q l 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 Clifton Hospital Hospital a g o a

o w 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 Devonshire Road Hospital

a e 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 r Hospital Salford Royal Hospitals Lytham Hospital NHS Trust Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG t y South Shore Hospital 1( Hope Hospital Cardiothoracic Centre - Liverpool NHS Trust G Cardiothoracic Centre – South Manchester University Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s Liverpool NHS Trust Hospitals NHS Trust University Hospitals NHS Trust GG u Cardiothoracic Centre Liverpool 2) Wythenshawe Hospital East Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGG GGGGGG Central Manchester and Walton Centre for Neurology Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Manchester Children’s and Neurosurgery NHS Trust University Hospitals NHS Trust 2! Walton Centre for Neurology Bay Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGG GGGGGG i Manchester Royal Infirmary and Neurosurgery Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen o Royal Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust G Hospital Wrightington, Wigan G and Leigh NHS Trust Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust East Lancashire 2@ Leigh Infirmary Hospitals NHS Trust 2# Royal Albert Edward Infirmary South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust G a Royal Infirmary Walton Centre for Neurology and G s General Hospital Neurosurgery NHS Trust d Queens Park Hospital Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust G G Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust f and Hospital g Royal Preston Hospital

Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust h Furness General Hospital j Royal Lancaster Infirmary k Westmorland General 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.

BLACKPOOL, FYLDE AND WYRE BLACKPOOL, FYLDE AND WYRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST M6 HOSPITALS NHS TRUST KENDAL BLACKPOOL VICTORIA HOSPITAL CLIFTON HOSPITAL 17

A590 A5087 15 BARROW-IN-FURNESS

16 LANCASTER

Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, Pershore Road, , 4 Lancashire FY3 8NR Lancashire FY8 1PB 11 Tel: 01253 300000 Tel: 01253 306200 BURNLEY www.bfwhospitals.nhs.uk www.bfwhospitals.nhs.uk BLACKPOOL 3 1 PRESTON 6 14 12 M65 A584 AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE 2 5 10 BLACKBURN Near the town centre, Blackpool This 77-bed community unit, Victoria Hospital has 800 beds and between the towns of Lytham and 13 CHORLEY M62 covers a full range of services from St Annes, provides sub-acute A570 maternity to elderly care. It specialises inpatient and day-hospital care for in heart problems. A new heart unit older people, rehabilitation and 23 WIGAN is to open in 2006. respite care for the disabled and an M60 A565 M58 22 9 active outpatient service. 19 PUBLIC TRANSPORT 21 LEIGH 8 Nearest train station: Blackpool PUBLIC TRANSPORT 18 7 M62 MANCHESTER North, two miles away. Nearest train station: St Annes, LIVERPOOL M6 20 Buses: Blackpool Transport one mile away. M56 01253 473000. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKING PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Limited free parking. Your hospitals Your hospitals

BLACKPOOL, FYLDE AND WYRE BLACKPOOL, FYLDE AND WYRE BLACKPOOL, FYLDE AND WYRE BLACKPOOL, FYLDE AND WYRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

DEVONSHIRE ROAD HOSPITAL FLEETWOOD HOSPITAL LYTHAM HOSPITAL SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL

Devonshire Road, Blackpool, Pharos Street, Fleetwood, Warton Street, Lytham St Annes, Stonyhill Avenue, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 8AZ Lancashire FY7 6BE Lancashire FY8 5EE Lancashire FY4 1HX Tel: 01253 303364 Tel: 01253 306001 Tel: 01253 303980 Tel: 01253 306100 www.bfwhospitals.nhs.uk www.bfwhospitals.nhs.uk www.bfwhospitals.nhs.uk www.bfwhospitals.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE This hospital, in central Blackpool, 27-bed Fleetwood Hospital, near This community hospital, in the town South Shore Hospital has 101 beds houses a specialist 10 bed unit for the town centre, provides a range of centre, has 30 beds across two wards across five wards offering dermatology patients, renal (kidney) inpatient, outpatient and day care offering acute services for inpatients rheumatology, rehabilitation and unit and a Clinical Skills Laboratory. services to Wyre residents. It offers and day cases in general, orthopaedic, orthopaedic surgery services. Its Some services currently provided, acute services in general surgery, dental and podiatric surgery. X-ray department has the region’s will be relocated to alternative sites urology, orthopaedic (bones and only Bone Densitometry Unit to scan due to redevelopment. joints) and podiatric surgery. PUBLIC TRANSPORT bone density and measure fracture Nearest train station: Lytham, risks. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT half a mile away. Nearest train station: Blackpool Nearest train station: Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PUBLIC TRANSPORT North, 15 minutes walk. Poulton-Le-Fylde, file miles away. Nearest train station: Squires Gate, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING 10 minutes walk. Limited free parking. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING PARKING Limited free parking. Limited free parking. PARKING Limited free parking. Your hospitals Your hospitals

CARDIOTHORACIC CENTRE – CENTRAL MANCHESTER AND CENTRAL MANCHESTER AND EAST LANCASHIRE LIVERPOOL NHS TRUST MANCHESTER CHILDREN’S MANCHESTER CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS NHS TRUST UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST CARDIOTHORACIC CENTRE MANCHESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY ROYAL MANCHESTER CHILDREN’S BLACKBURN ROYAL INFIRMARY LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL

Thomas Drive, Liverpool, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL Hospital Road, Pendlebury, Swinton, Bolton Road, Blackburn, Merseyside L14 3PE Tel: 0161 276 1234 Manchester M27 4HA Lancashire BB2 3LR Tel: 0151 228 1616 www.cmmc.nhs.uk Tel: 0161 794 4696 Tel: 01254 263555 www.ctc.nhs.uk www.cmmc.nhs.uk www.hospitalsineastlancs.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 800-bed Manchester Royal AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The Cardiothoracic Centre, between Infirmary, in central Manchester, This 139-bed hospital, to the The 322-bed Blackburn Royal Liverpool and Huyton, is one of the offers a range of services. These north-west of Manchester, provides Infirmary, a mile south of the largest specialist heart and chest include the Manchester Heart specialist healthcare for children. Blackburn town centre, offers a wide hospitals in the . Centre, renal (kidney) medicine It specialises in cancer care, range of general and specialist The hospital has 220 beds. and transplantation, surgery, orthopaedics (bones and joints), services. It is due to close in 2006 orthopaedics (bones and joints), plastic surgery and respiratory when all services will be transferred PUBLIC TRANSPORT ear, nose and throat (ENT) and medicine. to Queen’s Park Hospital. Nearest train station: Broadgreen, urology (urinary tract). five minutes walk. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Swinton, Nearest train station: Blackburn, Nearest train station: Oxford Road, one mile away. 10 minutes walk. PARKING 10 minutes walk. Buses: Greater Manchester Passenger Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Charges apply. Buses: Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive 0161 228 7811. Transport Exectutive 0161 228 7811. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

EAST LANCASHIRE EAST LANCASHIRE LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

BURNLEY GENERAL HOSPITAL QUEEN’S PARK HOSPITAL CHORLEY AND SOUTH RIBBLE ROYAL PRESTON HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Casterton Avenue, Burnley, Road, Blackburn, Preston Road, Chorley, Sharoe Green Lane North, Fulwood, Lancashire BB10 2PQ Lancashire BB2 3HH Lancashire PR7 1PP Preston, Lancashire PR2 9HT Tel: 01282 425071 Tel: 01254 263555 Tel: 01257 261222 Tel: 01772 716565 www.hospitalsineastlancs.nhs.uk www.hospitalsineastlancs.nhs.uk www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 533-bed Burnley General Queen’s Park Hospital is part of The 499-bed Chorley and South The Royal Preston Hospital, north of Hospital in north east Burnley East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Ribble district hospital, near Chorley the Preston city centre, offers a full provides a variety of surgical services which is bringing together all services town centre, offers a full range of range of hospital services with and covers specialties in dermatology on to the Queen’s Park Hospital site. services. It has one of the region’s specialist units for burns, plastic (skin), chiropody (foot) and ENT (ear, It is on the outskirts of Blackburn. biggest bone and muscle surgery surgery, kidney function and nervous nose and throat). centres. system disorders. It has 1,031 beds PUBLIC TRANSPORT and also provides cancer care. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Blackburn, PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Brierfield, one mile away. Nearest train station: Chorley, PUBLIC TRANSPORT one mile away. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. one mile away. Nearest train station: Preston, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. three miles away. PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Phone for details. PARKING Limited on-site parking. Charges Limited. Charges apply. PARKING apply. Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

MORECAMBE BAY MORECAMBE BAY MORECAMBE BAY ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST FURNESS GENERAL HOSPITAL ROYAL LANCASTER INFIRMARY WESTMORLAND GENERAL ROYAL LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

Dalton Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, Ashton Road, Lancaster LA1 4RP Burton Road, Kendal, Prescot Street, Liverpool, Cumbria LA14 4LF Tel: 01524 65944 Cumbria LA9 7RG Merseyside L7 8XP Tel: 01229 870870 www.mbht.nhs.uk Tel: 01539 732288 Tel: 0151 706 2000 www.mbht.nhs.uk www.mbht.nhs.uk www.rlbuht.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE In Lancaster city centre, the AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 400-bed Furness General 550-bed Royal Lancaster Infirmary The Westmorland General Hospital, The 998-bed Royal Liverpool Hospital, near Barrow town centre, provides a range of elective on the outskirts of Kendal, has 250 University Hospital in central provides a full range of elective healthcare services. It is also a beds. Its services cover elective Liverpool specialises in urology services. It has an oncology (cancer) sub-regional Vascular Unit and surgery, acute medical care and (urinary tract), gastroenterology unit and provides a houses the North Lancashire and minor injuries. It also has a (stomach), renal (kidney), sub-regional service for upper South Cumbria breast-screening midwifery-led maternity unit and haematology (blood) and gastro-intestinal surgery. service. coronary (heart) care facilities. ophthalmology (eyes). It is also a centre for research. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Barrow Station, Nearest train station: Lancaster, Nearest train station: Oxenholme, PUBLIC TRANSPORT two miles away. one mile away. 10 minutes walk. Nearest train station: Lime Street, Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. 15 minutes walk. Buses: Merseytravel hotline PARKING PARKING PARKING 0151 236 7676. Charges apply. Charges apply. Charges apply. PARKING No on-site parking. Your hospitals

SALFORD ROYAL SOUTH MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

HOPE HOSPITAL WYTHENSHAWE HOSPITAL

Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, Tel: 0161 789 7373 Manchester M23 9LT www.srht.nhs.uk Tel: 0161 998 7070 www.smuht.nwest.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE The 819-bed Hope Hospital is a AT A GLANCE teaching hospital four miles west The Wythenshawe Hospital is a large of central Manchester. It offers teaching hospital, with close links to specialist dermatology (skin), the University of Manchester. It has orthopaedic (bones and joints) and 703 beds and provides the full range renal (kidney) services. It is a national of surgery for inpatients, outpatients treatment centre for intestinal failure. and day cases.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Eccles, Nearest station: Sale, two 15 minutes walk. miles away. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

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

WALTON CENTRE FOR NEUROLOGY WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND NEUROSURGERY NHS TRUST AND LEIGH NHS TRUST

WALTON CENTRE FOR NEUROLOGY LEIGH INFIRMARY AND NEUROSURGERY

Lower Lane, Fazakerley, The Avenue, Leigh, Liverpool, Merseyside L9 7LJ Lancashire WN7 1HS Tel: 0151 525 3611 Tel: 01942 672333 www.thewaltoncentre.co.uk www.wwl.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 130-bed Walton Centre, in The Leigh Infirmary has 87 beds. Liverpool, is the UK’s only single site It provides diagnosis and recovery integrated neuroscience (nervous services and elective surgery system) NHS trust. These services are treatment. It is close to Leigh provided on site supported by a town centre. network of satellite clinics. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: Atherton, Nearest train station: Fazakerley, two miles away. 10 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING PARKING Limited. Charges apply. On-site parking is available. Free park and ride facility also available. WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN 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 away. 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

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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 ### Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust G G GGG 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 ##$ G G G G G GGGG patients. The indicators chosen for publication treatment as quickly as possible. The target University Hospitals NHS Trust in this leaflet are those that the Healthcare they were measured against was six months East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust ##$ G GGGG GGGG Commission and Department of Health believe from the time when the hospital doctor matter most to patients. decided that treatment was necessary. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ##$ G GGGGGGGG www.nhs.uk has the latest waiting times The 2005 NHS performance ratings were information. Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust #$$ G G G G G G G G G published in July 2005 and cover the year ending 31 March 2005. They place NHS Cancelled operations Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust ### G G G G GGGGG 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, Outpatient waiting times ##$ but not consistent across all areas, are Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust G G G GGG G G G 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 Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust ### G G G G GGGGG 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?