A national survey has highlighted patients' experiences at emergency departments run by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT).

The 2024 Urgent and Emergency Care Survey by Picker gathered feedback from patients treated at emergency departments at Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital.

The survey ran between April 18 and July 18, 2024, with a total of 306 responses received from UHMBT patients.

UHMBT scored 67 per cent for overall patient experience.

The trust scored over 90 per cent on a range of specific patient experience questions.

93 per cent of patients said they had confidence and trust in the doctors and nurses and 93 per cent said doctors and nurses listened to them.

92 per cent said they understood the explanation by the doctor or nurse of their condition and treatment, and 92 per cent said they were treated with respect and dignity.

The trust also reported improvements in several areas compared to 2022.

Understanding the explanation by the doctor or nurse of condition and treatment improved from 88 per cent in 2022 to 92 per cent in 2024.

Being told who to contact if worried improved from 74 per cent in 2022 to 80 per cent in 2024.

On being able to get food and drink while in A&E, scores improved from 69 per cent in 2022 to 79 per cent in 2024.

However, the survey also highlighted areas where UHMBT's performance had declined since 2022.

Overall A&E experience was down from 75 per cent in 2022 to 67 per cent in 2024.

On understanding why tests were needed, scores were down from 95 per cent in 2022 to 88 per cent this year.

Patient scores for being treated with respect and dignity dropped from 96% in 2022 to 92% in 2024.

The response rate for the survey was 33 per cent, 3 per cent higher than the national average.

Jane McNicholas, chief medical officer at UHMBT, said: "We are very grateful to our patients for sharing their feedback with us.

"The 2024 survey results clearly show where we are doing well and where we need to improve.

"We will use this feedback to ensure positive contributions to patient experience are understood and maintained, and that plans for improvement are implemented and sustained.

"There is much work still to do, and we are committed to putting patients at the centre of everything we do and improving care, treatment and experience for all."

A separate survey of urgent care centre attendees scored 90 per cent overall for patient experience

They received a 99 per cent score on being treated with respect and dignity.

UHMBT’s newly launched clinical strategy, Patient First, outlines the Trust’s aim to provide compassionate care and improve outcomes for the people of Morecambe Bay.

The survey results will help UHMBT develop and implement this new strategy.

They also have a Patient Experience, Carer Involvement, and Volunteering Enabling Strategy, which outlines its approach to involving patients, families, and carers as health and care partners.

The main UHMBT Trust Strategy aims to improve service quality for everyone who uses them.