NHS sees a steady rise in patient satisfaction over five years

A higher proportion of patients who used hospitals in England in 2007 were satisfied with the care they received than in the previous year, a Healthcare Commission survey shows.

The study, carried out by the Picker Institute, looked at responses from nearly 76 000 inpatients treated at a total of 165 English hospital trusts.

It showed that 42% of patients rated their care as “excellent,” the top possible rating. In the 2006 survey this percentage was 41% and in 2002 it was 38%. In 2007 nearly all patients (92%) rated their care as good, very good, or excellent.

Overall, 67% considered that when …