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Monday, 27 June 2005 10:14

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Hygiene more important than choice for patients

A survey by the British Medical Association has found that patients see hospital cleanliness as more important than choice when it comes to hospital spending.

The Government’s flagship health initiative - giving patients a choice of hospitals - came tenth in a poll which asked 2,000 patients to rank 10 NHS spending priorities.

Improving accident and emergency departments was the second most important priority for patients, with shorter waits third.

BMA chairman James Johnson said: "Quite rightly patients want their hospitals to be clean, they want improved A&E services, shorter waits and increased funding for research and new treatment."

"The BMA has been saying for a long time that patients are not so interested in a choice of five hospitals, but they want a good service in a clean, local hospital."

A Department of Health spokesman said that tackling MRSA was a top priority but added that the government believes people want more choice over treatment.

"In national patient surveys, patients are increasingly positive about the quality of their care, but we recognise that there is more to do to ensure that all patients get fairer, faster and better care," he said on the BBC Health website.

"There is clear evidence that patients want more involvement in decisions made about their care and health.

"When we tested this out, the majority of patients offered a choice have taken it."

The top 10 public priorities for health according to the BMA survey were as follows:

Cleaner hospitals - 9.23
Improved A&E - 8.52
Shorter out-patient waits - 8.42
New treatments research - 8.35
Funds for prevention - 8.07
Better out of hours care - 7.89
Extended GP services - 7.83
More time with a doctor - 7.26
Better hospital food - 6.51
Choice of hospital - 6.43

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