Reports Hub

In October 2024, Healthwatch in Sussex sought experiences of hospital outpatient appointment letters, which are intended to give you clear information about your appointment and what to expect when you attend.

A new report from Healthwatch East Sussex reveals that four out of five of patients discharged from local hospitals last winter reported a positive experience, but there were some aspects of discharge that could be developed and improved.

1,441 wellbeing checks were undertaken by Healthwatch volunteers and staff with patients discharged from hospital by telephone between August and November 2020.

We found that:

• 85% of discharged patients made favourable comments about their hospital stay and praised the professionalism, responsiveness and caring attitude of staff.
• Those with a support need who required assistance were signposted and referred to GPs, Community Hubs and other organisations.
• Communication with patients was the most common issue raised.
• Feedback from discharged patients highlighted the positive value attributed to follow-up checks, irrespective of support needs.
• Healthwatch will work with commissioners to understand and develop the hospital discharge process moving forwards.

Our report identifies 11 recommendations for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust who run the hospitals that patients were discharged from, NHS Commissioners who contract local GPs and Healthwatch. The focus of these is embedding the learning with a view to improving the experience for patients before, during and after discharge.

Accident and Emergency Departments at the Princess Royal Hospital Haywards Health and Royal Tunbridge Wells Hospital Pembury

Why women and their families value this service

This report presents a snapshot of interactions between Healthwatch East Sussex Authorised Representatives and patients, relatives, carers and staff including Ambulance staff. This work was carried out over a 24-hour period in Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in Hastings and over 12 hours at Bexhill Community Hospital.

During a two week period during November 2016, Healthwatch East Sussex’s Authorised Representatives (ARs) visited two wards in the Trust to observe the care frail elderly patients receive. The visits were unplanned and were designed to capture the interactions between staff and patients as a visitor or relative might experience.

This report is presented as a timeline of interactions with patients, relatives, carers and some staff, over 24 hours in both the acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne. The report describes how patients experience various departments, commissioned services or pathways; and importantly the interplay between them.

An overview of maternity services provided by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, from the parents and families perspective

A patient’s perspective of their road to treatment

Healthwatch East Sussex’s report on its support work of Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust review of stroke services

This document summarises the key findings, priority areas andactions from Healthwatch East Sussex study of Hospital Discharge

Joint visits to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury provided by
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTWT) to gather Patient Experiences of leaving hospital

This document is an executive summary from East Sussex Community Voice (ESCV), of the key discussion points raised during three independent Question Time events, arranged by ESCV to support the Better Beginnings consultation.

The purpose of this review is to gain a level of understanding an insight as to what extent, the national issue of NHS Trolley waiting times effects people in East Sussex.