Thread by @ChrisGrahamUK

I've had a coffee and collected my thoughts on the 2018 NHS inpatient survey. I'm doing my best to find positives for balance but strap in for ten tweets of mainly bad news on #NHS #inpatientexperience: [1/10]

First, note the timing of the survey - the survey covers patients discharged in July 2018. This isn't about winter pressures - this is what's happening in summer. #inpatientexperience [2/10]

Still, there are problems at the front door. Fewer patients are admitted as soon as they think necessary (72% vs 74% last year) and more say they didn't get enough information in A&E (17% vs 15% last year). Not a big surprise given A&E pressures? #inpatientexperience [3/10]

Questions on doctors and especially nurses have improved over the last few years. This year they've gone the opposite direction: there are drops in the % who say Drs & nurses answer questions and inspire confidence and trust #inpatientexperience [4/10]

It's really worrying that personal care appears to be suffering. Only 68% (vs 70% in 2017) 'always' got enough help to wash. One in three didn't get enough help with pain control (33% vs 31% last year) #inpatientexperience [5/10]

And what happens when it's time to go home? Longer delays to discharge, poorer coordination, and worse transition planning. Less than half (49%) 'definitely' knew what would happen next with their care #inpatientexperience [6/10]

Discharge information has suffered particularly badly. In five years the % given info about what to do after leaving hospital has dropped from 67% to 60%. Worse, the % given printed info on meds has dropped 5% points in one year (66% vs 71%) #inpatientexperience [7/10]

Positives, such as they are: overall most people still report positive experiences with doctors and nurses. Judged in isolation those figures are really good. But they have fallen. #inpatientexperience [8/10]

Finally, biggest proportionate declines: 25% reduction in pts seeing how to complain (26% to 19%) & being asked their views on quality of care (20% to 15%).

The latter is nearing pre-FFT levels (2012: 14%).

Do we no longer have time to listen? How will we improve? [9/10]

What does it all mean? Immediate reaction is that well known pressures on the service are beginning to affect quality from the patient perspective. If patient care remains top priority, and it should, action is needed to address this ASAP. #inpatientexperience [10/10]

Phew. @ThreadReaderApp unroll