The Health Information and Quality Authority in Ireland is launching ‘The National Inpatient Experience Survey’ which aims at collecting feedbacks from patients in Ireland on their care and experience they had while under Covid treatment in hospitals. The survey is a part of the National Care Experience Programme, a joint initiative by the independent health regulator HIQA, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and the largest of its kind in the country.
‘This year, patients will be asked about admission to hospital, the ward environment, care and treatment, discharge from hospital, as well as additional questions about their experiences in hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as staff communication while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and contact with family and friends given visitor restrictions.’ a notification in the Hiqa website reads.
The Hiqa estimates 25,000 patients will eligible to participate in this year’s survey which starts in September. All patients aged over 16 years-of-age who spend 24 hours or more in hospital and are discharged during the month of September are eligible to participate. Eligible patients will receive a survey by post at the end of October. The survey can be completed in paper form or online, and must be submitted by 5pm on 17 December 2021. Your answers to the questions will be most valuable in making our health care system more efficient in the future. You can participate in the survey here: www.yourexperience.ie. The findings of the survey will be published through the same website.