Patients give rural health units tick of approval according to new survey

Multi service units in the Northern New South Wales Local Health District have been given great feedback according to the Rural Hospital Adult Admitted Patient Survey 2019-20.

A new survey reported patient feedback on mutli service units in the NNSWLHD.

Staff at small rural health facilities in the Northern NSW Local Health District have been given great feedback card by patients, according to the latest survey by the Bureau of Health Information.

The Rural Hospital Adult Admitted Patient Survey 2019-20 surveyed patients who attended facilities between July 2019 and June 2020.

And results for the four Multi Purpose Services in Northern NSW, Kyogle, Nimbin, Urbenville and Bonalbo, were consolidated into the overall Northern NSW Local Health District results.

Overall, 99 per cent of respondents rated the care they received as ‘very good’ (85 per cent) or ‘good’ (14 per cent).

Respondents to the survey praised the staff at the small sites, with 92 per cent saying they ‘always’ had trust in their health professionals.

Ninety-one per cent of those surveyed said the areas they used in the hospital were ‘very clean’, and 93 per cent said the health professionals were ‘always’ kind and caring.

Staff have also been commended for their outstanding communication, with more than 92 per cent of respondents stating that the right amount of information was given to themselves and their families about their treatment, and 94 per cent said information was ‘always’ explained in a way they could understand.

NNSWLHD Chief Executive Wayne Jones said the results were a testament to the hardworking and compassionate health professionals who care for their local communities.

“The staff in our smaller sites work extremely hard to provide patient-centred care in a welcoming environment,” Mr Jones said.

“Our small health facilities play an integral role in the rural and regional communities they serve, and it’s fantastic to see that patients are reporting high levels of satisfaction with the care they are receiving.”

The 2020-21 budget for Northern NSW Local Health District was more than $926 million – an increase of almost $39 million on the 2019-20 budget.

According to the organisation, between mid-2012 and mid-2020 the Northern NSW Local Health District increased its workforce by an additional 1008 full time equivalent staff – an increase of 26.7 per cent – including 171 more doctors, 367 more nurses and midwives, and 121 more allied health staff.

The record 2020-21 $29.3 billion NSW Health budget includes $8.3 billion for Local Health Districts in rural and regional areas.