Worthing Hospital patient was “treated better than Prince Philip”

ONE Worthing Hospital patient said he was treated better than Prince Philip, according to an inspection report.

The Care Quality Commission made an unannounced visit to the hospital in Lyndhurst Road in June, and for the third successive time found all standards of care were being fully met there.

One patient told inspectors: “I’ve had better treatment than Prince Philip”, while another said Worthing Hospital was “a shining example of the NHS at its best”.

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The inspection happened on June 11, when Worthing had a month’s rainfall in 12 hours, causing flooding in the basement and lift shafts.

But despite the potential for problems, the inspectors noted: “We saw very little disruption or negative effect on patients.”

Worthing Hospital was assessed on five areas: People should be treated with respect, involved in discussions about their care and treatment and able to influence how the service is run; Before people are given any examination, care, treatment or support, they should be asked if they agree to it; People should get safe and appropriate care that meets their needs and supports their rights; People should be protected from abuse and staff should respect their human rights and People should be cared for in safe and accessible surroundings that support their health and welfare.

The report concluded: “People spoke very highly of the care they received at Worthing Hospital.

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“People were positive about the medical, nursing and housekeeping staff and said that they were kind and attentive. They told us that staff took the time to explain things properly and answered their questions fully.”

Cathy Stone, director of nursing and patient safety for Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “Our staff do amazing things for patients every day, and this report is yet another welcome recognition of that.

“We cannot deliver perfection but we set our sights high – we want our patients to get high-quality, safe care and to be treated with respect and compassion by our staff. That is what people have a right to expect.”

Ron Noakes, chairman of the Friends of Worthing Hospitals group, added: “Giving patients a good experience in hospital is not just about high-quality care – it is also about treating people well.

“I know that both the friends and the trust are working together to give patients the best possible experience, and this report recognises the progress that is being made.”

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