Patient voices are valuable for improving healthcare services

The National Patient Experience Survey allows the evaluation of patient experience in our public acute hospitals, explains Rachel Flynn.

Patients, the users of healthcare services, have long been recognised as the most critical shapers of healthcare services. Prior to 2017, there was no systematic evaluation of patient experience carried out in the country’s public acute hospitals. The National Patient Experience Survey addresses this deficiency, and is the largest survey of patient experience in public acute hospitals to be conducted in Ireland.