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

Patient Advice Liaison Service Wandsworth Primary Care Trust Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton Lane London SW15 5PN

Tel: 020 8355 2980 www.wandsworth-pct.nhs.uk/work/ppi/pals.asp 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

270744/227 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 Barts and The London NHS Trust North West London Hospitals e a y a g r o n g p y i y r r u o o c y q l g

h Royal London Hospital 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 w j

u St Bartholomew’s Hospital Central Middlesex Hospital o y i o t o c l l m s g i t x e m g n & r l o o l l o s a a y t o e t l c a l a a k a

o Edgware Community 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 l o Chelsea and Westminster Northwick Park and St Mark’s 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 Healthcare NHS Trust Hospital e Chelsea and Westminster Barts and The London NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGG GG Hospital Royal Brompton and Harefield Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust GG GGGGGGGGGGG NHS Trust Epsom and St Helier University 1( Royal Brompton Hospital Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Hospitals NHS Trust r Epsom General Hospital Royal Free Hampstead NHS Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGG t Nelson Hospital Trust y St Helier Hospital 2) Royal Free Hospital Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust GGGG GGGGG G G u Sutton Hospital Royal Marsden NHS Foundation King’s College Hospital NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGG Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Foundation Trust 2! Royal Marsden Hospital Kingston Hospital NHS Trust GGGG GGGGGGGGG i Guy’s Hospital (London) o St Thomas’ Hospital 2@ Royal Marsden Hospital (Surrey) Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Hammersmith Hospitals NHS St George’s Healthcare North West London Hospitals NHS Trust GGGGGGGGGGGGGG Trust NHS Trust a Charing Cross Hospital 2# St George’s Hospital Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust G s Hammersmith Hospital Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust GG GGGGGG GGGG St Mary’s NHS Trust King’s College Hospital NHS 2$ St Mary’s Hospital Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust G G G G G G GG Trust d King’s College Hospital Wandsworth Primary Care Trust St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust G G G G G G G G G G GGG 2% Queen Mary’s Hospital Kingston Hospital NHS Trust St Mary’s NHS Trust G GGGGGG GGGG f Kingston Hospital

Wandsworth Primary Care Trust GGGGGGGGG GGGG Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust g Mayday University Hospital h Purley Way Memorial Hospital

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.

M25 M25 BARTS AND THE LONDON NHS TRUST BARTS AND THE LONDON NHS TRUST Enfield M11 M1 ROYAL LONDON HOSPITAL ST BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL

A10

Barnet M1

A406

A406 Harrow Haringey Redbridge 17 Waltham A12 2 Forest H ingdon Havering 18 A1 Brent A503 Hackney A10 A406 20 A406 Camden A41 Newham Islington Tower Hamlets Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE A13 A40 A501 A13 E1 1BB Tel: 020 7377 7000 Ealing 16 Hammersmith 1 2 A1020 A5 and Fulham 24 Tel: 020 7377 7000 www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk Kensington Westminster 8 www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk 11 and Chelsea A4 9 AT A GLANCE M4 M4 21 A3212 10 19 Southwark Greenwich AT A GLANCE A2 This 307-bed teaching hospital A4 3 12 A202 Hounslow A3 This 700-bed teaching hospital, in provides a full range of local and A205 A23 A2 east London, is one of the largest in specialist services, including a centre Lambeth A316 23 Wandsworth Britain and provides a full range of for cancer and heart treatment. A205 Richmond A3 Lewisham local and specialist services. A 25 13 A214 The hospital is currently being PUBLIC TRANSPORT 5 14 A20 redeveloped and is one of Europe’s Nearest underground station: St Kingston Merton 6 largest renal services. Paul’s and Barbican, both ten upon A23 minutes walk. Thames A217 PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: London Travel Information 4 Sutton A232 Nearest underground station: 020 7222 1234. 7 A3 22 Whitechapel, two minutes walk. 15 Buses: London Travel Information PARKING Croydon 020 7222 1234. Charges apply.

PARKING Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

CHELSEA AND WESTMINSTER EPSOM AND ST HELIER UNIVERSITY EPSOM AND ST HELIER UNIVERSITY EPSOM AND ST HELIER UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

CHELSEA AND WESTMINSTER EPSOM GENERAL HOSPITAL NELSON HOSPITAL ST HELIER HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

369 Fulham Road, London Dorking Road, Epsom KT18 7EG Kingston Road, Raynes Park, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, SW10 9NH Tel: 01372 735735 Wimbledon, London SW20 8DB Surrey SM5 1AA Tel: 020 8746 8000 www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk Tel: 020 8296 2000 Tel: 020 8296 2000 www.chelwest.nhs.uk www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE This 408-bed General Teaching AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE This modern 463-bed teaching Hospital, near Epsom town centre, The hospital, near Merton Park, This 599-bed General Teaching hospital based in the heart of provides a comprehensive range of provides a day hospital for the Hospital in south-west London West London provides general acute services for adults and children. elderly, day case surgery and an covers all acute services for adults and specialist services. It has the It shares its site with the South West outpatient department that offers and children. It incorporates Queen only burns centre in London and London Elective Orthopaedic Centre. a wide range of clinics. Mary’s Hospital for Children and the the largest sexual health/HIV South West Thames Renal and service in Europe. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Transplantation Unit. Nearest train station: Epsom, one Nearest train station: Wimbledon PUBLIC TRANSPORT mile. Chase, one mile. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest Underground station: West Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Nearest train station: St Helier, 20 Brompton, ten minutes walk. minutes walk. Buses: London Travel Information PARKING PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. 020 7222 1234. Charges apply. Charges apply. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

EPSOM AND ST HELIER UNIVERSITY GUY’S AND ST THOMAS’ NHS GUY’S AND ST THOMAS’ NHS HAMMERSMITH HOSPITALS HOSPITALS NHS TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST NHS TRUST

SUTTON HOSPITAL GUY’S HOSPITAL ST THOMAS’ HOSPITAL CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL

Cotswold Road, Sutton, St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RT Lambeth Palace Road, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF Surrey SM2 5NF Tel: 020 7188 7188 London SE1 7EH Tel: 020 8846 1234 Tel: 020 8296 2000 www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk Tel: 020 7188 7188 www.hhnt.nhs.uk www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS AT A GLANCE This hospital in Hammersmith is the Sutton Hospital in west London Foundation Trust is made up of two Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS serious injuries centre for west offers a day surgery unit and a of London’s oldest teaching Foundation Trust is made up of two London. It offers all major medical number of outpatient services. It has hospitals. A wide range of services of London’s oldest teaching and clinical services and offers lithotripsy (urinary tract), operates from two sites with a total hospitals. Services operate from two specialist cancer, neuroscience, renal dermatology (skin), laser care and of 1,250 beds. sites with 1,250 beds in total. St and rheumatology services. pain control departments, and an Thomas’ houses the new Evelina ophthalmology (eyes) outpatient PUBLIC TRANSPORT Children’s Hospital. PUBLIC TRANSPORT service. Nearest train and Underground Nearest Underground station: station: London Bridge, five minutes PUBLIC TRANSPORT Hammersmith, 10 minutes walk. PUBLIC TRANSPORT walk. Nearest train station: Waterloo, 15 Buses: London Travel Information Nearest train station: Sutton, one Buses: London Travel Information minutes walk. 020 7222 1234. mile. 020 7222 1234. Nearest Underground station: Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Westminster, 10 minutes walk. PARKING PARKING Buses: London Travel Information Charges apply. PARKING None available. There is an NCP car 020 7222 1234. Charges apply. park nearby. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals

HAMMERSMITH HOSPITALS KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL NHS TRUST NHS TRUST

HAMMERSMITH HOSPITAL KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL

Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS Tel: 020 8383 1000 Tel: 020 7737 4000 www.hhnt.nhs.uk www.kingsch.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE Hammersmith Hospital is a centre for 950-bed King’s College Hospital is research, located in Hammersmith, a major London teaching hospital west London. it covers all specialties providing a full range of clinical for inpatients, outpatients and day services. Its wide range of specialties cases. includes work in liver disease and transplantation, foetal medicine, PUBLIC TRANSPORT neurosciences, cardiology and Nearest Underground station: haemo-oncology. East Acton and White City, both 10 minutes walk. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Buses: London Travel Information Nearest train station: Denmark Hill, 020 7222 1234. five minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. PARKING Charges apply. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

KINGSTON HOSPITAL NHS TRUST MAYDAY HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST MAYDAY HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST NORTH WEST LONDON HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

KINGSTON HOSPITAL MAYDAY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL PURLEY WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CENTRAL MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL

Galsworthy Road, Kingston-upon- London Road, Thornton Heath, 856 Brighton Road, Purley, Acton Lane, Park Royal, Thames, Surrey KT2 7QB Surrey CR7 7YE Surrey CR8 2YL London NW10 7NS Tel: 0208 546 7711 Tel: 020 8401 3000 Tel: 020 8401 3000 Tel: 020 8965 5733 www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk www.maydayhospital.nhs.uk www.maydayhospital.nhs.uk www.nwlh.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The 600-bed Kingston Hospital, The 700-bed District General The Purley War Memorial Hospital A new 265-bed hospital with a full a mile from the town centre, Hospital is in Thornton Heath, is a cottage hospital in the centre range of services and community- provides a full range of diagnostic north of Croydon. In 2004 a of Purley. It has 35 inpatient beds focused care. The adjoining centre and treatment services, including 306-bed unit opened with four for older people, as well as an specialises in short-stay surgery. a maternity unit. A new surgical theatres for day surgery. outpatient service. There is also an award-winning inpatient facility and cancer unit birth centre. is being built. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest train station: West Nearest train station: West Croydon, PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Croydon, 25 minutes walk. 20 minutes walk. Nearest Underground station: Nearest train station: Norbiton, Buses: London Travel Information Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Harlesden, 20 minutes walk. two minutes walk. 020 7222 1234. Buses: London Travel Information Buses: London Travel Information PARKING 020 7222 1234. 020 7222 1234. PARKING Limited; phone for details. Limited. Charges apply. PARKING PARKING Charges apply. Charges apply. Your hospitals

NORTH WEST LONDON NORTH WEST LONDON HOSPITALS NHS TRUST HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

EDGWARE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL NORTHWICK PARK AND ST MARK’S HOSPITAL

Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA8 0AD Middlesex HA1 3UJ Tel: 020 8952 2381 Tel: 020 8864 3232 www.barnet.nhs.uk www.nwlh.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The Edgware Community Hospital, This 850-bed teaching hospital in 10 miles north of London, offers a Harrow provides a full range of range of consultant-led outpatient services. It has a newly refurbished clinics and day surgery services. maternity department. St Mark’s is Other services include a walk-in a national specialist research and centre, therapies unit, birth centre treatment centre for intestinal and intermediate care. diseases.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest Underground station: Burnt Nearest Underground station: Oak, 15 minutes walk. Northwick Park, five minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Buses: London Travel Information 020 7222 1234. PARKING Limited. Charges apply. PARKING Charges apply. Your hospitals Your hospitals

ROYAL BROMPTON AND ROYAL FREE HAMPSTEAD NHS TRUST ROYAL MARSDEN NHS ROYAL MARSDEN NHS HAREFIELD NHS TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST FOUNDATION TRUST

ROYAL BROMPTON HOSPITAL ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL ROYAL MARSDEN HOSPITAL ROYAL MARSDEN HOSPITAL (LONDON) (SURREY)

Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP Pond Street, London NW3 2QG Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT Tel: 020 7352 8121 Tel: 020 7794 0500 Tel: 020 7352 8171 Tel: 020 8642 6011 www.rbht.nhs.uk www.royalfree.nhs.uk www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE This 295-bed central London This teaching hospital provides a The Royal Marsden, in London The Royal Marsden, in London and hospital specialises in the research, full range of local services and and Surrey, is a leader in the field Surrey, is a leader in the field of treatment and care of patients with specialises in renal services, liver and of cancer. It provides inpatient, day cancer. It provides inpatient, day heart and lung disease. It is also the kidney transplantation, cancer and care and outpatient facilities for all care and outpatient facilities for largest cystic fibrosis treatment neurosciences. It has a modern types of cancer, together with all types of cancer, together with centre in Europe. maternity unit. specialist critical care and specialist critical care and rehabilitation services. rehabilitation services. PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest Underground station: South Nearest train station: Hampstead PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Kensington, 10 minutes walk. Heath, 10 minutes walk. Nearest Underground station: South Nearest Underground station: Buses: London Travel Information Buses: London Travel Information Kensington, five minutes walk. Morden, four miles. 020 7222 1234. 020 7222 1234. Buses: London Travel Information Nearest train station: Belmont, 15 020 7222 1234. minutes walk. PARKING PARKING Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. Limited. Charges apply. Limited. Charges apply. PARKING Phone for details. PARKING Limited; phone for details. Your hospitals Your hospitals

ST GEORGE’S HEALTHCARE NHS ST MARY’S NHS TRUST WANDSWORTH PRIMARY CARE TRUST TRUST

ST GEORGE’S HOSPITAL ST MARY’S HOSPITAL QUEEN MARY’S HOSPITAL

Blackshaw Road, Tooting, Praed Street, London W2 1NY Roehampton Lane, London SW17 0QT Tel: 020 7886 6666 London SW15 5PN Tel: 020 8672 1255 www.st-marys.nhs.uk Tel: 020 8789 6611 www.st-georges.org.uk www.wandsworthpct.nhs.uk AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE St Mary’s Hospital, in central London, AT A GLANCE The 1,048-bed St George’s Hospital specialises in paediatrics (children), Queen Mary’s Hospital provides a provides general and acute services obstetrics (pregnancy), infections, range of services including day case to the local population in south-west ophthalmology (eyes) and cardiac facilities for the elderly, a minor London. It offers a range of specialist (heart) care. The hospital has a injuries unit, outpatient, diagnostic services for patients from across robotic surgical centre offering and treatment clinics. A new London and the south east. general, cancer, cardiac (heart) and building, due to open early in 2006, urological (urinary tract) surgery. will have 139 beds. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearest Underground station: PUBLIC TRANSPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT Tooting Broadway, five minutes Nearest train and Underground Nearest Underground station: Putney walk. station: Paddington, five minutes Bridge, three miles. Buses: London Travel Information walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608. 020 7222 1234. Buses: London Travel Information 020 7222 1234. PARKING PARKING Phone for details. Charges apply. PARKING Phone for details. How does your Hospital Trust score? What do the ratings mean?

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

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

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

Excellent o e m f i s

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

G t m k n s e m i s g s t g o i d o i i n r Good e n c t i g i much broader range of issues. In Autumn 2006,

v assessing and reporting on the performance f t n t G a i i n i d o r n l o i r a a t n e o n t i p Average i a of healthcare organisations on an annual the Healthcare Commission will publish the p w a t n w a c n e o G s e t l d w s e o c n i f d n m t e basis. For NHS Trusts, this involves issuing assessment of the performance of healthcare t l Below average e e n a e i n n l i a a i t l

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

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

R rating is made up of a number of performance March 2006. C O M H I M A I C indicators. The indicators show how Trusts are doing in relation to some of the main targets Healthcare Commission statistics Barts and The London NHS Trust ##$ G GGGGGGGG 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 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust ### G G G GGG GGG such as information from surveys of staff and have done at getting patients into hospital for patients. The indicators chosen for publication treatment as quickly as possible. The target Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust #$$ G G G GGGGGG in this leaflet are those that the Healthcare they were measured against was six months Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust ### Commission and Department of Health believe from the time when the hospital doctor G G G G G G G G G matter most to patients. decided that treatment was necessary. Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust ##$ G G G G G G G GG www.nhs.uk has the latest waiting times The 2005 NHS performance ratings were information. King’s College Hospital NHS Trust ##$ G G G G G G GGG published in July 2005 and cover the year ending 31 March 2005. They place NHS Cancelled operations Kingston Hospital NHS Trust ##$ G G G G G G GGG Trusts in England into one of four This column shows how often your hospitals categories: cancelled booked operations for non-medical Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust ### G GGGGG G G G • Trusts with the highest levels of performance reasons (e.g. equipment being out of action, are awarded a rating of three stars. no bed being available or staff being away). North West London Hospitals NHS Trust #$$ GGG G G G G G G • Trusts with mostly high levels of performance, but not consistent across all areas, are Outpatient waiting times Royal Brompton and Harefield 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 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust $$$ G GGGGGG G G regarding particular areas, Trusts are for a clinic appointment following GP referral. Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust ### awarded a rating of one star. The target they were measured against was G G G G G GGGG • Trusts that have shown the poorest levels 13 weeks from GP referral. www.nhs.uk has St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust #$$ G G G G G G GGG of performance receive a rating of zero stars. the latest waiting times information. St Mary’s NHS Trust ### G GGGGG G G G 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?