Healthwatch Cheshire publish Leighton Hospital A&E Watch report
Healthwatch Cheshire have today published an A&E Watch report based upon our visit to Leighton Hospital on 7th October 2019.
A&E Watch is designed to gain a snapshot view of the NHS Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments in Cheshire. Healthwatch Cheshire undertake A&E Watch periodically to gain experiences of patients and understand why they attended and how they thought services could be improved.
On this occasion, Healthwatch Cheshire were asked by Mid-Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to revisit Leighton Hospital on 7th October 2019 in order to assess the success of the new streaming system following its implementation in the time since the previous A&E Watch report.
Our team of staff and volunteers engaged with people in the department across eight hours, from 10am until 2pm, and 4pm until 8pm. We used two surveys, one to be completed whilst in the department, and another to be completed after leaving the department for people to reflect on their experience.
Chris Oliver, Chief Operating Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“I would like to thank Healthwatch for undertaking this second review of Leighton Hospital’s Emergency Department this year. The Trust had requested this in response to the Healthwatch visit in February and to review the improvements we had put in place since. It was pleasing to see the developments in streaming and infrastructure were appreciated by our patients and pleasing to note the signage that went up post the review will address the outstanding concerns of patients.
As a system we are working hard to ensure appropriate signposting for our patients, to the service that best fits their need. The review highlighted there is more work to do on this agenda.”
Jamaila Tausif, Associate Director of Strategy and Partnerships at NHS South Cheshire and NHS Vale Royal Clinical Commissioning Groups, said:
“The CCGs extend their thanks to Healthwatch for the visit and subsequent report. This will support commissioners and providers to build on and enhance care and improve patient outcomes.”