Patient experience survey

Growing evidence tells us that patient experience is a good indicator of the quality of health services. Better experience, stronger partnerships with consumers, and patient and family-centred care have been linked to improved health, clinical, financial, service and satisfaction outcomes.

In August 2014 the Health Safety and Quality Commission started the Patient Experience Survey, a large, national survey that asks for feedback from patients 15 years and older who recently spent time as inpatients in our hospitals, or visited their General Practice team.

Patient experience measures are now routinely in place for hospitals. The survey runs quarterly in all district health boards and covers four key domains of patient experience: communication, partnership, co-ordination and physical and emotional needs.

A selection of adult patients who spent at least one night in hospital are sent an invitation via email, text or post inviting them to participate in this national survey. The survey responses are anonymous unless patients choose to provide their contact details.