By ALESHA CAPONE
SUNSHINE Hospital has received a score of 70.7 out of 100 – or ‘good to very good’ – for the overall care it provides to patients, in a state-wide government survey.
Last week, the State Government released the Victorian Patient Satisfaction Monitor Annual Report (VPSM) for July 2011 to June 2012.
As part of the VPSM, more than 29,000 patients from hospitals across the state completed a survey of 25 questions.
The VPSM rated scores between 100-80 as ‘very good to excellent’ and 61-80 as ‘good to very good’.
Out of more than 100 Victorian hospitals in the report, Sunshine Hospital scored third-lowest, above the Kingston Centre on 70.4 and Footscray Western Hospital on 67.7.
The Yea and District Memorial Hospital received the highest core of 90.9.
The Western Health CEO, Associate Professor Alex Cockram, said Sunshine Hospital’s 2011-2012 score of 70.7 was an increase from 68.8, received in the previous VPSM.
“Western Health is committed to delivering high quality and safe care that includes a positive experience for patients,” said Ms Cockram.
“The feedback and insight provided through VPSM offers an opportunity to identify not only where we need to improve, but also where we are already doing well.
“Health services must understand how their patients are experiencing care if they are to effectively translate their needs and preferences into higher quality, safer and more efficient services.”
Health Minister, David Davis, said the VPSM showed Victorians had given hospitals across the state a “thumbs-up”.
“Based on the survey, the areas with the highest level of satisfaction were the courtesy of nurses and doctors, being treated with respect, personal safety and helpfulness of staff,” he said.
“Areas for improvement included quality of food, storage facilities, waiting room comfort, explanation of hospital procedures and restfulness of the hospital.”
