Patient experience overall measure: 2012 accident & emergency survey update
Statistics from the Department of Health on how patients experience care in the NHS in England, updated to include results from the 2012 accident & emergency survey.
Documents
Details
The latest National Statistics on the overall patient experience measure, produced by the Department of Health (DH) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), were released on 6 December 2012.
For further information on these statistics and other documentation required under the Code of Practice for Official Statistics see patient experience notes and guidance.
These data are also available in excel and csv format as well as some supporting tools.
Background
This publication updates this regular statistical series to include results from the 2012 accident & emergency (A&E) survey. Trusts chose 1 month out of January, February and March 2012 for their sample. Patients were eligible for the 2012 A&E Survey if they were aged 16 years or older, attended an A&E department during the sampling period and were not hospital inpatients at the time.
The statistics use responses that NHS patients gave in the wide-ranging national patient survey programme to calculate a set of scores to measure patient views on the care they receive. Scores are provided for 5 headline ‘domains’ of patient experience, together with an overall measure. The figures are calculated the same way for each update, with the intention of allowing results to be compared over time.
The earliest data relate to 2002. This update adds scores derived from the 2012 survey of A&E services, for which a separate summary of results was published by the CQC on 6 December 2012.
The next confirmed update of these statistics is expected in April 2013, and will include results from the 2012 survey of inpatient services.
Key findings
Patient experience of NHS A&E services decreased between 2008 and 2012. The overall score in 2012 was 75.4 out of 100, compared to 75.7 in 2008.
There were falls in 3 of the 5 domain scores between 2008 and 2012. ‘Access and waiting’ fell from 66.6 to 64.3, ‘Safe, high quality, coordinated care’ fell from 75.1 to 74.5, and ‘Building closer relationships’ fell from 81.3 to 80.8.
There was an improved score in 1 domain: ‘Clean, comfortable, friendly place to be’ increased from 81.4 in 2008 to 82.2 in 2012.
Feedback
The DH aims to make its National Statistics accessible, useful and appropriate for the needs of users. We welcome feedback on our statistics. Comments can be sent by email to the lead statistician for this publication, Edward Aveyard on statsonexperience@dh.gsi.gov.uk or you can download the feedback form.
National Statistics
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:
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meet identified user needs
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are well explained and readily accessible
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are produced according to sound methods
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are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.