The Adult Inpatient Survey 2025 results have been shared by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It has shown the trust has improved in a number of areas.
A total of 407 people shared their views when they were invited to have their say last November, following on from their hospital stay.
Overall, the trust scored 8 out of 10 when they were asked if they felt they had a “very good experience” as they rated their experience of being in hospital.
Respect and dignity was one of the trust’s highest-scoring areas compared to 2024’s responses. This score increased from 8.9 in 2024’s results to 9.1 in the latest scores.
There was one question where STSFT performed somewhat better than the 130 other trusts also surveyed across the 51 questions. This was around how they rated the quality of the information they were given. This was during the time when they were waiting for their treatment and admission to hospital. It covered verbal, written and online details shared. This scored 8.6, a rise from 8.4 in 2024.
The strongest improvements included around sleep quality for patients during their stay. Not being disturbed by noise from staff at night scored 8.5, up from 8 and lighting stopping them from sleeping scored 8.4, up from 7.9.
Other improved areas are detailed here:
|
Question
|
2024 score
|
2025 score
|
|
Help to wash or keep clean
|
7.5
|
8.1
|
|
Food available outside mealtimes
|
6.1
|
6.5
|
|
Information about virtual ward risks and benefits was available
|
6.2
|
6.7
|
|
Involvement in decisions about care and treatment
|
6.8
|
7.0
|
|
Enough nurses were on duty
|
7.2
|
7.5
|
|
Nurses included them in the conversation about their care
|
8.5
|
8.8
|
|
Confidence and trust in nurses
|
8.6
|
8.8
|
The main areas where scores had fallen were around discharge.
People were asked whether staff discussed if they might need further help or social care services after leaving hospital. This scored 7.4 compared to 8.4 last time. A question around if they had been given information about what they should and shouldn’t do after leaving hospital also showed a drop, from 7.6 to 7.1.
Karen Sheard, the Trust’s Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, said: “We want to thank everyone who took the time to give us their feedback following their hospital stay. We know the care we give really matters to them and their loved ones.
“The CQC Inpatient Survey is just one of the ways we gather people’s views. All of the information shared with us helps us to look at where we’re doing well and where we can do better. We are always striving to improve a patient’s experience with us and these scores show where we are already making a difference.
“I’m especially pleased to see we have been highlighted for the dignity and respect we show our patients. These are at the heart of everything we do.
“I want to thank every staff member who has played a part in looking after patients who stay with us. This proves how valued their work is. This is also reflected in the questions asked about our nursing teams and I am very proud to see this has improved in our latest results.
“It also notes the work we’re putting into caring for people through our virtual wards. While this survey is about hospital stays, so much of what we do is out in our communities, giving people the support they need in their own homes.
“Improving how we get people ready to head home is something we’re working on and these results show how important those efforts are when it is time to discharge a patient. As ever, we will now look at all the results in more detail and look at next steps with the aim of improving even further.
