Local NHS seeks views of patients and families on process of leaving hospital

People in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire who have recently been in hospital are being asked to share their views on how their journey from ward to home was managed.

Health leaders from BSW Together, which is the integrated care system that covers NHS services in the region, will use the feedback to make improvements that will benefit future patients.

Any person who has recently been cared for at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, the Great Western Hospital in Swindon or Salisbury District Hospital, along with their family members and carers, are asked to share their views.

Feedback will be collected in person through a series of face-to-face focus groups, as well as online via a short survey.

Gill May, Chief Nurse, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “Getting people back home from hospital, or to another setting, such as a care home, safely and in a way that is planned, with the input of both the patient and their family, is a priority for all our health and care providers.

“We want to ensure that the voices of patients, carers and the public are at the heart of our work, and ultimately influence the design and delivery of the care they receive.”

While hospital is the best place to be for people needing urgent medical intervention or regular monitoring, experts have found that recovery from illness or injury is more suited to a home environment.

This is why the process of helping people home from hospital is such an important element of a person’s overall recovery programme, as it supports them to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

People who are interested in leaving feedback of their experiences, or who would like to understand more about how and where their views will be used, should visit https://bswtogether.org.uk/get-involved/improving-hospital-discharge/.