Experiences of local emergency and out-of-hours services in the Borough are rated mostly positive by patients, in a new report published by Healthwatch Doncaster.
Visiting services
An independent voice for people who use health and social care services, Healthwatch Doncaster visited local emergency and out of hours services including an overnight visit to Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s (DRI) Emergency Department.
Staff and volunteers spoke to patients and their relatives about their experiences, using a conversational approach rather than asking specific questions, in order to get an accurate picture of service provision from a patient’s perspective.
Our visits also included Mexborough Montagu Minor Injuries Unit, DRI’s Urgent Treatment Centre, whilst surveys were completed by people attending Doncaster’s Same Day Health Centre, located at Cavendish Court. Emergency Care Practitioners distributed questionnaires with reply paid enveloped to recipients of the service.
Sandie Hodson, Engagement Officer and Volunteer co-ordinator, said: “We were very pleased to be able to go behind the scenes in the Emergency Department at DRI to see first-hand how the department copes with a high volume of patients attending.
