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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) will launch a Patient Experience and Satisfaction Survey (PESS) next Monday (July 13) at 25 public hospitals to understand and study patients' experiences, feelings, views and satisfaction levels in receiving in-patient services for the purpose of continuous service improvement.
The HA spokesman today (July 10) said the survey, commencing next Monday in the form of telephone interviews, will be conducted by the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It will take six months to complete. The survey will cover important aspects which include admission to hospital; environment, food and facilities; healthcare staff; patient care and treatment; information on leaving hospital; and overall impressions.
"Random sampling will be adopted to recruit patients to the survey, and consent would be sought before commencement of the telephone interview. Their personal data will be handled in strict confidence. Patients are free to withdraw at any time from the survey in case they change their mind."
The spokesman stressed that the HA has been attaching great importance to patients' views on hospital services. To continuously improve the services, healthcare staff also have to grasp the patients' needs. Optimal treatment outcomes could also be achieved through harmonious doctor-patient relations.
The HA appeals to patients to actively participate in the survey, which will enable public hospitals to better understand patients' experience in public hospitals, their needs and their expectations. The views expressed by patients will help the HA shape service directions and plan improvement measures to continuously enhance healthcare quality in public hospitals.
The first PESS on 5,000 discharged in-patients of 25 public hospitals was launched in 2010. To facilitate ongoing monitoring of patient service standards, HA-wide in-patient surveys will be conducted at regular intervals, and in between there will be the specialty-based PESS to address specific areas or issues.
Ends/Friday, July 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:34
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