Choosing your hospital Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust For most medical conditions, you can now choose where and when to have your treatment. This booklet explains more about choosing your hospital. You will also find information about the hospitals you can choose from. Second edition December 2006
Contents What is patient choice? 1 Making your choice 2 How to use this booklet 3 Where can I have my treatment? 4 Your hospitals A to Z 7 Your questions answered 34 How to book your appointment 36 What do the specialty names mean? 37 What does the healthcare jargon mean? 39 Where can I find more information and support? 41 How do your hospitals score? 42 Hospital score table 46
What is patient choice? If you and your GP decide that you need to see a specialist for more treatment, you can now choose where and when to have your treatment from a list of hospitals or clinics. Why has patient choice been introduced? Research has shown that patients want to be more involved in making decisions and choosing their healthcare. Most of the patients who are offered a choice of hospital consider the experience to be positive and valuable. The NHS is changing to give you more choice and flexibility in how you are treated. Your choices Your local choices are included in this booklet. If you do not want to receive your treatment at a local hospital, your GP will be able to tell you about your choices of other hospitals across England. As well as the hospitals listed in this booklet, your GP may be able to suggest community-based services, such as GPs with Special Interests or community clinics. Or, if your GP decides to refer you to a Clinical Assessment Service and you then need to go to hospital, you will be able to choose from this list of hospitals. General information 1
Making your choice In choosing where to have your outpatient appointment, you will be choosing where to receive your full treatment, if you need it. This will include your initial outpatient appointment and any other appointments for treatment (for example, inpatient care) or aftercare. However, if you are not happy with your chosen hospital after your outpatient appointment, your GP can make you an appointment at another hospital. If you need very specialised care, you may need to be referred to another hospital. You may also be transferred to another specialty if the hospital doctor feels that this is more appropriate for your condition. 2 General information
How to use this booklet This booklet includes information about your choice of hospitals. Use the Where can I have my treatment? table on page 4 to find out which hospitals offer your treatment. You can then find information about individual hospitals. This starts on page 7. You can also find out how your hospital scores against a number of measures, some of which are patients views. This information starts on page 46. You will also find other information in this booklet to help you make your choice. You can use the 'Contents list' at the beginning of the booklet to find this information. You can also find more information on www.nhs.uk Your local library can help you use the internet to search for more information on choosing your hospital. See the 'Where can I find more information and support?' page later in this booklet for some website addresses that you can use. General information 3
Where can I have my treatment? Use the chart below to check which hospitals provide the service you need. In addition to the hospitals listed, your GP may be able to refer you to community-based or other services. Ask him or her what s available in your local area. He or she will also advise you if the service you need is not listed. Specialty name Hospital provider Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust page 7 Barts and The London NHS Trust page 8 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust page 10 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust page 11 Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust page 13 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust page 14 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust page 15 4 Hospital information
Specialty name Hospital provider King's College Hospital NHS Trust page 16 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust page 17 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust page 18 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust page 19 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust page 20 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust page 21 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust page 22 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust page 23 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust page 24 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust page 25 Hospital information 5
Specialty name Hospital provider St Mary's NHS Trust page 26 The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust page 27 The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust page 29 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust page 30 Wandsworth Teaching Primary Care Trust page 33 To find out more about the hospitals you can choose from go to page 7 To find out what these specialties mean go to page 37. 6 Hospital information
Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust www.asph.nhs.uk Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust received the Healthcare Commission's highest three-star rating in 2005. The Trust has two recently refurbished sites accessed by the M25 and M3. St Peter's provides general and emergency services and Ashford offers rehabilitation and day surgery. Specialist services include orthopaedics, cardiology and neo-natal intensive care. Both hospitals provide a wide range of outpatient clinics. Ashford Hospital St Peter's Hospital London Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 3AA Tel: 01784 884488 Trains: Ashford. One mile. Buses: Traveline. 0870 608 2 608. Parking: On-site parking available. Guildford Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 0PZ Tel: 01932 872000 Trains: Chertsey. One mile. Buses: Traveline. 0870 608 2 608. Parking: On-site parking available. Hospital information 7
Barts and The London NHS Trust www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk The Trust has an international reputation. We offer a full range of specialist centres, including Britain's biggest heart attack centre, a regional cancer centre and one of the UK's largest children's hospitals. Home to London's air ambulance, Barts and The London is one of the capital's largest trauma and emergency care centres, providing surgical expertise that also benefits patients requiring more routine operations. St Bartholomew's Hospital West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE Tel: 020 7377 7000 Trains: Blackfriars, Cannon Street, City Thameslink. Less than half a mile. Tube Station: St Paul's, Farringdon, Barbican, Blackfriars. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. 8 Hospital information
Barts and The London NHS Trust www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk The London Chest Hospital The Royal London Hospital Bonner Road, London, E2 9JX Tel: 020 7377 7000 Trains: Cambridge Heath. Less than half a mile. Tube Station: Bethnal Green. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Transport information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB Tel: 020 7377 7000 Trains: Liverpool Street. One mile. Tube Station: Whitechapel, Aldgate East. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. To see how your hospital scores see page 42 Hospital information 9
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.chelwest.nhs.uk This central London teaching hospital provides general services for its local community and specialist services including sexual health and HIV, burns and paediatrics. We are committed to hospital hygiene: the Health Protection Agency showed the Trust had reduced MRSA cases by 50 per cent between October 2005 and March 2006. We also scored 97 per cent in a Healthcare Commission cleanliness spot check in December 2005. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH Tel: 020 8746 8000 Trains: West Brompton. Up to half a mile. Tube Station: Fulham Broadway, South Kensington, West Brompton. Up to half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. 10 Hospital information
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk The Trust provides a full range of services for parts of south-west London and north-east Surrey. In addition, it provides tertiary level renal (kidney), pathology and neonatal intensive care services to a wider catchment area. The Trust has two main sites at St Helier Hospital and Epsom. It also provides services from Sutton Hospital, the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children. Epsom General Hospital Dorking Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EG Tel: 01372 735 735 Trains: Epsom. One mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre Dorking Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EG Tel: 01372 735 800 Trains: Epsom. One mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. Hospital information 11
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk St Helier Hospital Sutton Hospital Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1AA Tel: 020 8296 2000 Trains: St Helier. One mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. Cotswold Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5NF Tel: 020 8296 2000 Trains: Belmont. One mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. To see how your hospital scores see page 42 12 Hospital information
Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.frimleypark.nhs.uk The Trust, based near Camberley, Surrey, holds a 2005 Healthcare Commission three-star rating. It has an eye treatment centre on site, a new cardiology catheter lab, and hosts one of the Ministry of Defence's six UK Hospital Units. The Trust has a Charter Mark and Investors in People award (2004) and was the first in the UK to achieve the highest quality accreditation for clinical safety (Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts, 2004). Frimley Park Hospital Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 7UJ Tel: 01276 604604 Trains: Frimley. Up to half a mile. Buses: Traveline. 0870 608 2 608. Parking: Limited on-site parking. Hospital information 13
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust www.gosh.nhs.uk We have an international reputation and provide a wide range of specialist services at our site in central London. We also provide general paediatric services at the North Middlesex University Hospital. We have close links with the Institute of Child Health, the UK's leading paediatric research centre. Many of our facilities have recently been refurbished and we also offer a local authority parking scheme. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH Tel: 020 7405 9200 Trains: Euston, King's Cross St Pancras. One mile. Tube Station: Holborn or Russell Square. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Transport Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: No on-site parking. Phone for details. 14 Hospital information
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust includes two of London's teaching hospitals, providing patients with treatment and care from two central London sites near Waterloo and London Bridge. As well as a full range of general hospital services, we offer a wide range of specialist care including cardiac, cancer, dermatology, services for women and kidney patients, and children's services in the new Evelina Children's Hospital. Guy's Hospital St Thomas' Hospital St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RT Tel: 020 7188 7188 Trains: London Bridge. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH Tel: 020 7188 7188 Trains: Waterloo. Up to half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. Hospital information 15
King's College Hospital NHS Trust www.kch.nhs.uk King's College Hospital is one of London's largest and busiest teaching hospitals, with an interesting profile of local services and focused tertiary specialties. We have an international reputation for our work in liver disease and transplantation, neurosciences, cardiac and blood cell cancer, attracting patients from the UK and overseas. King's College Hospital King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS Tel: 020 3299 9000 Trains: Denmark Hill, Loughborough Junction. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Buses. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Limited on-site parking. 16 Hospital information
Kingston Hospital NHS Trust www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk The Trust is located in Kingston upon Thames. We are committed to quality healthcare and continue to improve our facilities, working hard to ensure that we have built up a wide range of clinical services. We are currently building a new surgical block, which will also provide catering facilities, a training and education centre and physiotherapy department. We are also building a new cancer unit and refurbishing our medical wards. Kingston Hospital NHS Trust Galsworthy Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 7QB Tel: 020 8546 7711 Trains: Norbiton. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. Hospital information 17
Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust www.maydayhospital.nhs.uk The Trust provides general and specialist services. Specialties include diabetes, cardiology, renal (kidney), HIV and a new Birth Centre as an alternative to the labour ward. The Trust was named 'Acute Healthcare Organisation of 2005' by the Health Service Journal, and the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts rates its maternity services Level 3, one of only 10 maternity units in the country to achieve the highest rating. Mayday University Hospital 530 London Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7YE Tel: 020 8401 3000 Trains: West Croydon. One mile. Buses: Transport for London. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Limited on-site parking. 18 Hospital information
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust www.moorfields.nhs.uk Established in 1805, we are the largest and oldest eye hospital in the UK and became a Foundation Trust in April 2004. We focus on the treatment and care of patients with a range of eye problems from common complaints to rarer conditions. We recently adopted a day care policy, and a new Children's Eye Hospital opens in December 2006. Moorfields has other sites in Greater London, allowing patients to be treated closer to their homes. Moorfields Eye Hospital 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD Tel: 020 7253 3411 Trains: Old Street (WAGN). Less than half a mile. Tube Station: Moorgate, Barbican, Angel. One mile. Old Street. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Transport. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. Hospital information 19
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust www.nwlh.nhs.uk The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust incorporates Northwick Park and St Mark's Hospitals in Harrow, Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal and outreach services based close to our local communities in Wembley, Willesden, Edgware, Stanmore and Harlesden. Northwick Park Hospital Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ Tel: 020 8869 3232 Trains: Northwick Park. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Transport Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. 20 Hospital information
Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust www.rbht.nhs.uk Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals both appear in the three top hospitals for treating heart disease in the Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2005. Both our hospitals have new specialist facilities for heart disease diagnosis. The Trust s international specialists also treat a range of lung diseases. The Trust is rated as 'excellent' for outpatient waiting times and 'good' for low MRSA rates by the Healthcare Commission 2005. Harefield Hospital Royal Brompton Hospital Hill End Road, Harefield, Middlesex, UB9 6JH Tel: 01895 823737 Trains: Denham Station / Uxbridge Underground Station. Seven miles. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP Tel: 020 7352 8121 Trains: n/a Tube Station: South Kensington. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. Hospital information 21
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust www.royalfree.nhs.uk The Trust is a large London teaching hospital providing a wide range of specialist and general services. We specialise in renal (kidney) services, organ transplantation, cancer, neurosciences and hearing services. Services are provided at the Royal Free Hospital, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, Edgware Community Hospital, Barnet Hospital, Finchley Memorial and North Middlesex Hospital. Royal Free Hospital Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG Tel: 020 7794 0500 Trains: n/a Tube Station: Belsize Park. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Limited on-site parking. Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital 330 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DA Tel: 020 7837 8855 Trains: Kings Cross. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: No on-site parking. Phone for details. 22 Hospital information
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust www.rnoh.nhs.uk The Trust provides a comprehensive range of healthcare, including treatment of the most acute spinal injury, complex bone tumour or nerve injury, as well as provision of orthopaedic medicine and specialist rehabilitation for chronic back pain sufferers. The Trust is based on two sites: Stanmore in Middlesex and a Central London outpatients facility in Bolsover Street. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LP Tel: 020 8954 2300 Trains: Stanmore. One mile. Buses: n/a Parking: Free on-site parking. Hospital information 23
Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk The Trust is a modern hospital providing a wide range of general hospital services. It is establishing an increasing number of specialist surgical services and new techniques, such as new keyhole surgery. The cancer centre provides a full range of diagnostics, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The hospital won the 2005 Health Services Journal national award for Patient Centred Care. Royal Surrey County Hospital Egerton Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XX Tel: 01483 571122 Trains: Guildford. One mile. Buses: Traveline. 0870 608 2 608. Parking: On-site parking available. 24 Hospital information
St George's Healthcare NHS Trust www.stgeorges.nhs.uk We are a London teaching hospital providing a wide range of general services including accident and emergency, children's and maternity services, and many specialist services related to the brain, heart and chest. Our specialist neurological services recently moved from Atkinson Morley Hospital to a new modern facility at the main site in Tooting. We are also a regional centre for diagnosis and treatment of complex cancers. Bolingbroke Hospital St George's Hospital (Tooting) Bolingbroke Grove, London, SW11 6HN Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0QT Trains: Wandsworth Common, Clapham Junction. Less than half a mile. Buses: Transport for London. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. Trains: n/a Tube Station: Tooting Broadway. Less than half a mile. Buses: Transport for London. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. Hospital information 25
St Mary's NHS Trust www.st-marys.nhs.uk The Trust provides general and specialist services, including cardiology, paediatrics, women's health and robotic (non-invasive) surgery at St Mary's Hospital, and ophthalmology at the Western Eye Hospital. We also offer some outpatient services from St Charles Hospital. Consistently achieving three stars for good performance from the Healthcare Commission (2002-2006), the Trust has a strong history of research and teaching. St Mary's Hospital Western Eye Hospital Praed Street, London, W2 1NY Tel: 020 7886 6666 Trains: Paddington. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. 153-173 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QH Tel: 020 7886 6666 Trains: Marylebone. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Off-site parking available. 26 Hospital information
The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust www.hhnt.nhs.uk The Trust, in west London, manages Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital and Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital. It is a busy trust with a strong history of education and research. Charing Cross and Hammersmith are both teaching hospitals, whilst Queen Charlotte's specialises in women's and children's services and maternity. Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF Tel: 020 8846 1234 Trains: West Brompton. One mile. Tube Station: Baron's Court, Hammersmith. Less than half a mile. Buses: Transport for London. 0845 300 7000. Parking: Limited on-site parking. Hospital information 27
The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust www.hhnt.nhs.uk Hammersmith Hospital Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS Tel: 020 8383 1000 Trains: Acton Central. One mile. Tube Station: East Acton, White City. Less than half a mile. Buses: Transport for London. 0845 300 7000. Parking: Limited on-site parking. Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS Tel: 020 8383 1111 Trains: Acton Central. One mile. Tube Station: East Acton, White City. Less than half a mile. Buses: Transport for London. 0845 300 7000. Parking: Limited on-site parking. To see how your hospital scores see page 42 28 Hospital information
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk Based in London and Surrey, The Royal Marsden provides specialist cancer services from critical care to rehabilitation and has one of the UK's largest breast cancer units. The hospital is rated as one of only two in England to achieve excellence for both quality of services and use of resources (Healthcare Commission 2006). It is London's only radiotherapy provider to meet Royal College waiting time standards for the past two years. Royal Marsden Hospital (London) Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ Tel: 020 7352 8171 Trains: n/a Tube Station: South Kensington. Less than half a mile. Buses: Transport for London. 020 7222 1234. Parking: No on-site parking. Phone for details. Royal Marsden Hospital (Surrey) Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PT Tel: 020 8642 6011 Trains: Sutton / Belmont. One mile. Buses: Transport for London. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Limited on-site parking. Hospital information 29
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust www.uclh.nhs.uk The Trust is a major research and teaching centre with three stars from the Healthcare Commission since 2001/02. It provides general and specialist services at the new University College Hospital. It also has six specialist hospitals in central London. It was one of the first trusts to screen patients for MRSA on admission and is on track (August 2006) to meet the Health Protection Agency's target of halving MRSA blood infection by 2008. Eastman Dental Hospital 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD Tel: 020 7915 1000 Trains: King's Cross. Less than half a mile. Tube Station: Russell Square or King's Cross. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Phone for details. 30 Hospital information
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust www.uclh.nhs.uk Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6DH Tel: 0845 155 5000 Trains: Euston. Up to half a mile. Tube Station: Warren Street or Euston Square. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Phone for details. National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG Tel: 0845 155 5000 Trains: King's Cross. One mile. Tube Station: Russell Square or Holborn. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Free, but limited. To see how your hospital scores see page 42 Hospital information 31
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust www.uclh.nhs.uk The Heart Hospital University College Hospital 16-18 Westmoreland Street, London, W1G 8PH Tel: 020 7573 8888 Trains: Marylebone. Less than half a mile. Tube Station: Marylebone or Regent's Park. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel. 020 7222 1234. Parking: Phone for details. 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU Tel: 0845 155 5000 Trains: Euston, Kings Cross, Warren Street, Euston Square. Less than half a mile. Buses: London Travel. 020 7222 1234. Parking: n/a To see how your hospital scores see page 42 32 Hospital information
Wandsworth Teaching Primary Care Trust www.wandsworth.nhs.uk The PCT provides treatment at Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton. Services include day care for the elderly and a minor injuries unit. Our Rapid Diagnostic Centre performs all tests, diagnoses and treatment packages at the first visit, reducing the number of appointments each patient needs. Our clinics include cardiology, colposcopy (gynaecological investigation), endoscopy (diagnostic investigation), ophthalmology and radiology. Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton Roehampton Lane, London, SW15 5PN Tel: 020 8487 6000 Trains: Barnes. One mile. Buses: London Travel Information. 020 7222 1234. Parking: On-site parking available. Hospital information 33
Your questions answered Is patient choice offered for all medical conditions? A choice of hospital is available for most medical conditions. However, not all hospitals treat every medical condition and some patients may need a more specialist service. What if I don t want to choose? You do not have to make the decision yourself. If you prefer, your GP can still make the choice for you and recommend a hospital for your treatment. What if I don t want to go to a different hospital? You don t have to. If you would rather visit the hospital that you usually go to, you can make that choice. Will I have to pay? No, not as an NHS patient. All the hospitals listed provide services to NHS patients. As long as you choose one of the hospitals listed in this booklet, you won t have to pay. 34 General information
Is there help available for my travel arrangements to get to hospital? If your GP or the person who has referred you decides that you have a medical need for transport, patient transport services should be provided. You may also have your travel expenses paid through the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme, if you get Jobseeker s Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Pension Credit, or qualify under the low-income scheme. Where s best for me? You might want to think about how you will get to hospital or who might pick you up when your treatment has finished. If you are going to be in hospital for a while, do you want to be close to family and friends? You may also want to think about how quickly you want to be treated. Would you be willing to travel further away if it meant that you could be treated quicker? Or you may have a different priority hospital cleanliness or location, for example. The information in this booklet can help you make your choice based on the things that matter to you. You can also find more information on www.nhs.uk. General information 35
How to book your appointment What you need to do How ever you are being referred, your GP or practice team will let you know what you need to do. Once you have left your GP practice, you can speak to your local support services for more help with choosing your hospital. Their contact details are on the back page of this booklet. Using Choose and Book GPs may use a computer system to book your first outpatient appointment. This is called Choose and Book. This system gives you more control over when you book your appointment. Your GP or practice team can give you a leaflet called An introduction to Choose and Book for patients that will give you more information. Without Choose and Book If your GP is not yet using Choose and Book, he or she will send a letter to your choice of hospital and can also send you a copy. The hospital will then contact you to make an appointment. 36 General information
What do the specialty names mean? Cardiology Dermatology Ear, nose and throat (ENT) Gastroenterology General medicine General surgery Gynaecology Neurology Ophthalmology Oral-maxillo surgery Paediatrics Heart and blood vessels. Skin, hair and nails. Ear, nose and throat disorders. Digestive system, including the liver, stomach, intestines and oesophagus. Non-surgical treatment of diseases of the internal organs, especially in adults. Surgical treatment of abdominal organs, the thyroid gland and hernia. Organs of the female reproductive system. Nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Eye disorders, including injuries, infections, tumours and cataracts. Mouth and facial surgery. Diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases in children. General information 37
Rheumatology Trauma and orthopaedics Urology Inflammatory diseases of the muscles and joints, including arthritis. Musculoskeletal system including bones, joints and supporting muscles. Kidneys, urinary, bladder and male reproductive organs. 38 General information
What does the healthcare jargon mean? What s an outpatient appointment? An outpatient appointment is when you visit the hospital to see a specialist who will examine you so that he or she can diagnose what the problem is and think about what the best treatment will be. What s inpatient treatment? Inpatient treatment is when you go into hospital to have your treatment and stay overnight. What is secondary or tertiary care? When patients are referred by their GP for further treatment, this is known as secondary care. It usually means being treated by a specialist in a hospital or a clinic. In some cases, patients may need to see a clinician with highly specialised knowledge of their condition. This is known as tertiary care. What are NHS Foundation Trusts? NHS Foundation Trusts are a new type of NHS hospital that are run by local managers, staff and members of the public. These trusts have been given more freedom than other NHS trusts. However, they remain within the NHS. General information 39
What are NHS Treatment Centres? Some NHS Treatment Centres are run by the NHS and some are run by the Independent Sector. They both provide treatment to NHS patients with NHS standards of care. You do not have to pay for treatment at either type of treatment centre the cost will be covered by the NHS. What s a GP with a Special Interest? Sometimes, rather than going to a hospital or clinic, you may be able to choose to be treated by a GP with a Special Interest. As well as their GP qualifications, they have thorough training and experience in a specialist area. What s a Clinical Assessment Service? Sometimes, instead of referring you direct to a hospital for an outpatient appointment, your GP might refer you to a Clinical Assessment Service. They will assess your condition and will discuss the next stage of your treatment. This assessment may take place in person or over the phone. Your GP will let you know what you need to do if he or she is referring you to a Clinical Assessment Service. 40 General information
Where can I find more information and support? Your GP should be able to give you the answers to some of the questions you have about your condition. Or, you can contact NHS Direct. Visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, go to NHS Direct Interactive on digital satellite TV, or call 0845 4647 and ask to speak to a health information adviser. For other healthcare information www.nhs.uk for an electronic copy of this booklet, to compare individual hospitals, and other NHS information. www.healthspace.nhs.uk for a secure place on the internet where you can store all your personal health information. www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk for information on the electronic booking system that GPs may use to refer you for an outpatient appointment. www.healthcarecommission.org.uk for quality and performance information on hospitals from the independent regulator of healthcare. www.patientopinion.org.uk, an independent website where you can find out what other patients are saying about local health services. General information 41
How do your hospitals score? The information given in the following tables shows how some hospitals are doing against selected measures of performance as well as ratings from patient surveys. The information for independent sector hospitals and for NHS Trusts is collected in different ways. What do the statistics say about Independent Sector hospitals? These performance indicators were collected over six months, from October 2005 to March 2006. Inpatient waiting times This measures the length of time a patient waits to receive treatment if they need to be admitted to hospital. The target is six months from the time a consultant decided hospital treatment was necessary to the time of receiving treatment. Outpatient waiting times This measures the length of time a patient waits for an appointment following a referral from their GP. The target is 13 weeks from the time the hospital receives the letter. Cancelled operations This measures the number of operations which had to be cancelled for non-clinical reasons (i.e. equipment out of action, no bed available or staff away). MRSA infection This indicator closely monitors the number of MRSA blood infections recorded. NHS patients treated at a hospital or treatment centre managed by the independent sector, are tested for MRSA prior to commencing treatment. This significantly helps reduce the risk of passing MRSA to other patients being treated at the hospital. What do patients say about Independent Sector hospitals? The Independent Sector hospitals and treatment centres each conduct Patient Satisfaction Surveys. 42 Hospital performance information
The following indicators are based on the responses to these surveys. Clinical relationships Patients treated at the hospital are asked to comment on the way they felt they were treated by the nursing staff and doctors. Hospital cleanliness This asks patients to comment on whether they found the hospital wards and toilets to be clean. Patients are also asked to express an overall view on the cleanliness of the hospital. Warm, friendly place to be Patients are asked to comment on whether they felt welcomed to the hospital, whether the environment was pleasant, friendly and warm and whether the care they received helped them to feel comfortable. Overall patient satisfaction This indicates patients overall impressions about the treatment and care they received at the hospital. Hospital performance information 43
What do the statistics say about NHS hospitals? The measures cover the year ending 31st March 2006. Inpatient waiting times This measures the length of time a patient waits to receive treatment if they need to be admitted to hospital. The target is six months from the time a consultant decided hospital treatment was necessary to the time of receiving treatment. Outpatient waiting times This measures the length of time a patient waits for an appointment following a referral from their GP. The target is 13 weeks from the time the hospital receives the letter. Cancelled operations This measures the number of operations which had to be cancelled for non-clinical reasons (i.e. equipment out of action, no bed available or staff away) and for which a new date was not offered within 28 days of the original date. MRSA infection This measures the number of MRSA blood infections recorded and whether the hospital reduced the rates compared with the previous year in line with the planned number of reductions. What do patients say about NHS hospitals? A national survey of patients receiving treatment at NHS Trusts was conducted in 2005. The columns include results from questions that asked about: Building closer relationships Patients were asked whether they could understand the answers which doctors and nurses gave them to their questions and whether they felt that a doctor or nurse talked in front of them as if they weren t there. Clean, comfortable, friendly place to be This survey asked whether patients felt bothered by noise at night, their opinion on how clean the room or ward was, how they 44 Hospital performance information
rated the food, whether they were given enough privacy when being examined, whether they felt enough was done to control their pain and whether they were treated with dignity and respect. Safe, high-quality, co-ordinated care Patients were asked whether they felt they were given conflicting information from staff, how long it took to be discharged and whether they were given advice about any possible problems to watch out for when they went home. Better information, more choice This survey asked patients whether they felt they were involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their care and treatment, if staff explained about the medicines they were to take at home in a way they understood and if they were told about the possible side effects of that medication. Hospital performance information 45
Hospital score table These tables show how your hospitals score against a number of measures, some of which are patients' views. For more information on what the measures mean, see 'How do your hospitals score?'. The indicators for independent and NHS hospitals are in separate tables because the information comes from different sources, and the definitions and time-periods covered are slightly different. For example, a '3' score for an independent hospital is not directly comparable with a '3' score for an NHS hospital, although both will be good quality. Performance information Patients' views Achieved target >90 out of 100 Underachieved 80-90 out of 100 Failed <80 out of 100 Performance information Patients' views Data not available Data not available Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust page 7 Barts and The London NHS Trust page 8 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust page 10 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust page 11
Performance information Patients' views Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust page 13 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust page 14 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust page 15 King's College Hospital NHS Trust page 16 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust page 17 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust page 18 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust page 19 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust page 20 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust page 21 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust page 22
Performance information Patients' views Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust page 23 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust page 24 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust page 25 St Mary's NHS Trust page 26 The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust page 27 The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust page 29 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust page 30 Wandsworth Teaching Primary Care Trust page 33 For full details of how the scores were calculated please go to www.nhs.uk/documents/choice/indicators.pdf
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For confidential support with choosing your hospital, contact: Patient Advice and Liaison Service Falkland Wing Nelson Hospital Kingston Road London SW20 8DB Tel: 0800 085 3182 Email: pals@smpct.nhs.uk Website: www.suttonandmerton.nhs.uk Other formats You can get this booklet in other formats (for example, in other languages, on audio tape, in Braille, in British Sign Language, in easy-to-read print and in large print). Please contact your GP practice team for a printed copy. For an electronic copy, please go to www.nhs.uk The general information in this booklet has gained Plain English Campaign's Crystal Mark for clarity, meaning that it is as easy to read as possible. Please note that the information was correct at the time of printing. 276033/130 Crown copyright 2006 1p Dec 06 (BEL)