Released on: 10 October 2013
NHS patients need to become more demanding and fight for their rights, says Healthwatch England. The NHS has been told to bring better care to patients after a new poll indicated that half of people (54%) who experienced poor care did not report it.
In response to this, Senior Policy Adviser, NCT, Elizabeth Duff says:
“It is extremely concerning to hear that so many patients are dissatisfied with the health care they receive, but we are glad to see Healthwatch England taking some action to address and highlight this crucial issue.
“We already know that maternity services across the UK are not meeting patients’ rights. Maternity Services Liaison Committees (MSLCs) – the multidisciplinary forums that guide and advise the service – are greatly under threat, despite the model being a proven successful way of working.
“Maternity services and the needs of parents using them are constantly evolving. Regular feedback from the people using maternity care is vital to ensure that the planning and delivery of maternity services is centred on the needs of the people using them. NCT knows that all healthcare and maternity care users want continuity, solid communication and involvement in decisions.
“Healthwatch England has raised some shocking statistics, but there is still more to tackle. We are urging the government to start taking this issue seriously.”
