HOSPITAL patients in Colchester rate the care they receive higher than ever before, according to a national survey published today by a health watchdog.
Seventy-nine per cent of patients at Colchester General Hospital and Essex County Hospital who responded to the Care Quality Commission’s survey of adult inpatients 2012, described their care as either “excellent” or “good”.
This compares with 78 per cent in the 2011 survey, 72 per cent in 2010, 73 per cent in 2009 and 74 per cent in 2008.
Today’s publication was welcomed by Kathy French, deputy director of nursing at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester’s two NHS  hospitals.
She said: “The results of this survey are consistent with what the NHS Friends and Family Test is telling us.
“In that test, patients are asked 'How likely are you to recommend our ward to friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment?'
“We have consistently been in the top quarter of hospital trusts in the NHS Midlands and East area, and our most recent score, which is for February, says that 80 per cent of patients would recommend us.
“However, we will not be satisfied until every patient in Colchester feels happy with the care they receive in our hospitals. We will study today’s survey in detail to identify areas where we can make further improvements.”