Choosing your hospitalFor more help with choosing your hospital, contact:

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A copy of this booklet is alsoavailable on: www.nhs.uk

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Patient Advice and Liaison ServiceWest Lancashire PCTWigan RoadOrmskirkLancashire L39 2EY

Tel: 01695 598259www.westlancspct.nhs.uk

West Lancashire Primary Care Trust

Where can I go for treatment?You might already have experience of a particular hospital or know someonewho has. Now you can choose – where would you like to go? Or, if you like,your GP can recommend a hospital where you can be treated.

How do I find out more information about my condition?Your GP should be able to give you the answers to some of the questionsyou have. Or contact NHS Direct: visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call 0845 4647 and ask to speak to a health information advisor.

How long will it take?How quickly do you want to be treated? Would you be willing to travelfurther away if it meant you could be treated quicker?

Where’s closest?You might want to think about how you will get to hospital. Who will takeyou there and pick you up when your treatment is finished? If you are goingto stay in hospital for a while, do you want to be close to family or friends?

Where’s best for me?Different people have different priorities. You know what’s most importantfor you – hospital cleanliness or location, for example. This booklet gives youan overall idea of what each hospital is like, so you can work out which onesuits you. If you want to find out more visit www.nhs.uk, the NHS website.

Things to think aboutIf you and your GP decide that you need to see a specialistfor further treatment, you can now choose where to haveyour treatment from a list of hospitals or clinics. From April,you may have an even bigger choice – full details will be on the NHS website (www.nhs.uk).

This guide explains more about how the process works. It also gives you answers to some questions you may have.Plus, there are details of the hospitals you can choose andsome information to help you choose the one that will bebest for you. If you need more help, details of your localsupport services are on the back of this booklet.

As well as the hospitals listed in this booklet, your GP mayalso be able to refer you to community-based services,such as GPs with Special Interests or community clinics.Alternatively, if your GP decides to refer you to a ClinicalAssessment Service and you then need to go to hospital, you will be able to choose from this list of hospitals.

What is patient choice?

Making your choice

Find out what your choices areTalk to your GP or local support services about the choices that are available toyou and where you can get more information and support.

Get the information you need This guide should give you most of the information you need to help you makeyour choice. For more details visit www.nhs.uk, the NHS website.

Talk it through with someone else You may want to discuss your choices with family or friends, especially if youare going to need their help with travel or care after your treatment.

Weigh up the pros and consConsider your needs and compare each hospital using the information you have,bearing in mind what is most important to you.

Book your appointmentYou will be advised how to book your hospital appointment. Once you havedecided where you want to go, follow this guidance. And don’t be afraid to ask if you need help with booking an appointment.

You may already have a clear idea as to where you would like to be treated. If so, thisbooklet will give you more information on the hospital you have chosen. If you haven’t madeup your mind, you could:

The next few pages will help you decide which hospital will be best for you:

Your hospitals

Where can I have my treatment? shows which Hospital Trusts treat which conditions. There are descriptions of each of your local hospitals and how to get to them.

The map shows where each hospital is.

How do your hospitals score? gives ratings for each Hospital Trust, so that you can compare their performance in nine different categories.

Why would I want to choose whichhospital treats me?If you choose which hospital you are treated in, you can make sure that you go to theplace that will best suit your needs.

What if I don’t want to choose?You do not have to make the decisionyourself. 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 visitthe hospital that you usually go to, then youcan make that choice.

Is patient choice offered for all medical conditions?A choice of hospital is available for mostmedical conditions. However, not allhospitals treat every medical condition and some patients may need a morespecialist service.

If I need treatment after my firstappointment, will I be treated at the same hospital?In most cases you will. But if you need veryspecialised treatment, you may have to go to another hospital.

Will I have to pay?No, not as an NHS patient. All the hospitalslisted provide services to NHS patients. Aslong as you choose one of the hospitals listed in this booklet, you won’t have to pay.

Is there help available for my travelarrangements to get to hospital?If your GP or the person who has referred youdetermines that you have a medical need fortransport to get to hospital, patient transportservices should be provided. You may alsohave your travel expenses paid through theHospital Travel Costs Scheme, if you getJobseeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credit,Child Tax Credit or Pension Credit.

Which hospital should I choose?The hospitals you can choose from will dependon the type of specialist you need to see. Thisbooklet shows you which hospitals carry outthe treatment you need (Where can I have mytreatment?). The table How does your HospitalTrust score? gives you more information aboutthese hospitals and will help you make achoice that best suits you.

What happens if I change my mind?If you decide that you do not want to betreated at the hospital where you have yourfirst appointment, you can go back to yourGP, who will go through the other optionsavailable to you.

Where can I get the information I needto help me make my choice?If you want to know something that isn’tcovered in this guide, or you want moreadvice, you can talk to your GP or other local support services. You’ll find the detailsof your local support services on the backcover of this booklet. You may also want totalk things through with family and friends.For further information you can visitwww.nhs.uk, the NHS website.

Your questions answered

Hospital Trusts

Abbey HospitalsqAbbey Gisburne Park HospitalwAbbey Park Hospital

Aintree Hospitals NHS TrusteUniversity Hospital Aintree

Cardiothoracic Centre –Liverpool NHS TrustrCardiothoracic Centre

Central Manchester andManchester Children’sUniversity Hospitals NHS TrusttManchester Royal InfirmaryyRoyal Manchester Children’s

Hospital

Classic Hospitalsu Fylde Coast Hospital

Lancashire Teaching HospitalsNHS Foundation TrustiChorley and South Ribble

HospitaloRoyal Preston Hospital

Liverpool Women’s HospitalNHS Foundation Trusta Liverpool Women’s Hospital

Nuffield Hospitalss Lancaster and Lakeland Nuffield

Hospital

Royal Liverpool and BroadgreenUniversity Hospitals NHS TrustdRoyal Liverpool University

Hospital

Royal Liverpool Children’s NHSTrustfRoyal Liverpool Children’s

Hospital

Salford Royal Hospitals NHSTrustgHope Hospital

South Manchester UniversityHospitals NHS TrusthWythenshawe Hospital

Southport and OrmskirkHospital NHS TrustjOrmskirk and District General

Hospitalk Southport and Formby District

General Hospital

St Helens and KnowsleyHospitals NHS Trustl St Helens Hospital;Whiston Hospital

Walton Centre for Neurologyand Neurosurgery NHS Trust2)Walton Centre for Neurology

and Neurosurgery

Wrightington, Wigan and LeighNHS Trust2! Leigh Infirmary2@Royal Albert Edward Infirmary

Hospital Trusts are NHS organisations that manage hospitals. There may be more thanone hospital in a single Trust. The NHS collects information at Trust level, so a lot ofinformation is listed by Trust, not individual hospital.

The list shows which hospitals are in which Hospital Trust.

Royal Liverpool and BroadgreenUniversity Hospitals NHS Trust

Walton Centre for Neurology andNeurosurgery NHS Trust

Where can I have my treatment?Use the chart below to check which hospitals provide the service you need. In additionto the hospitals listed, your GP may be able to refer you to community-based or otherservices. 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.

Hospital provider

Abbey Hospitals, Abbey Gisburne Park Hospital l l l

Abbey Hospitals, Abbey Park Hospital l l l

Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust l l l l l l l l l l l

Cardiothoracic Centre - Liverpool NHS Trust l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Classic Hospitals, Fylde Coast Hospital l l l

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust l l l l

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l l l

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Royal Liverpool Children’s NHS Trust l l l l l l l l l l l

Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust l l l l l l l l l l l l l

South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust l l l l l l l l l l l l l

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Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

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This data was correct at the time of going to print and may be subject to amendments.

Central Manchester and Manchester Children’sUniversity Hospitals NHS Trust

Netcare Healthcare, Netcare MobileOpthalmology Chain

Nuffield Hospitals, Lancaster and LakelandNuffield Hospital

ABBEY HOSPITALS

Gisburn, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 4HXTel: 01200 445693 www.abbeyhospitals.co.uk

AT A GLANCEThis is a 35-bed private hospital nearthe town centre offering adult andchild surgery and complimentarytherapies. It specialises in breast andbowel cancer and offersphysiotherapy and specialist sportsinjury treatment.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Clitheroe, 12 miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGFree parking available.

ABBEY GISBURNE PARK HOSPITAL

ABBEY HOSPITALS

Dalton Lane, Barrow-in-Furness,Cumbria LA14 4TPTel: 01229 813388 www.abbeyhospitals.co.uk

AT A GLANCEAbbey Park Hospital has 13 beds andoffers a range of services for adultsand children. These includetreatments for the mouth, skin,bones, muscles and kidneys. It isnorth of the town centre.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Barrow-in-Furness, one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGFree parking available.

ABBEY PARK HOSPITAL

Your hospitals

MANCHESTER

LIVERPOOL

RUNCORN

PRESTON

BLACKPOOL

WIGAN

LEIGH

SOUTHPORT

ORMSKIRK

CHORLEY

BARNOLDSWICK

BARROW-IN-FURNESS

LANCASTER

ST HELENS

CHESTER

M66

M56

M6

M6

M6

M55M65

M61

M58

M57

M53

M62

M62 M60

M60A565

9

13 1918

8

7

2

17

1

11

16

4

22

216

14

5

15

3 20

1210

Find your hospitalThe numbers on this map refer to the numbers on the hospital list onthe previous page.

CENTRAL MANCHESTER ANDMANCHESTER CHILDREN’SUNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WLTel: 0161 276 1234www.cmmc.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe 800-bed Manchester RoyalInfirmary, in central Manchester,offers a range of services. Theseinclude the Manchester HeartCentre, renal (kidney) medicine and transplantation, surgery,orthopaedics (bones and joints), ear,nose and throat (ENT) and urology(urinary tract).

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Oxford Road, 10 minutes walk. Buses: Greater Manchester PassengerTransport Exectutive 0161 228 7811.

PARKINGCharges apply.

MANCHESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY

CENTRAL MANCHESTER ANDMANCHESTER CHILDREN’SUNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Hospital Road, Pendlebury, Swinton,Manchester M27 4HATel: 0161 794 4696www.cmmc.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThis 175-bed hospital, in Pendlebury,provides specialist healthcare servicesfor children. It is a centre ofexcellence in many specialties such ascancer care, bone marrowtransplantation, spinal and plasticsurgery, as well as a centre forchildren’s intensive care.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Swinton, one mile. Buses: Greater Manchester PassengerTransport Exectutive 0161 228 7811.

PARKINGCharges apply.

ROYAL MANCHESTER CHILDREN’SHOSPITAL

Your hospitals

AINTREE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Lower Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside L9 7ALTel: 0151 525 5980www.aintreehospitals.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe 944-bed University Hospital,Aintree, in north Liverpool, offers a wide range of acute healthcareservices. Specialist services includechest medicine and maxillofacial(face and upper jaw).

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Fazakerley, 10 minutes walk. Buses: Merseytravel hotline 0151 236 7676.

PARKINGCharges apply.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AINTREE

CARDIOTHORACIC CENTRE -LIVERPOOL NHS TRUST

Thomas Drive, Liverpool, Merseyside L14 3PETel: 0151 228 1616www.ctc.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe Cardiothoracic Centre, betweenLiverpool and Huyton, has developedas a centre of excellence and is nowone of the largest specialist heart andchest hospitals in the UnitedKingdom. The hospital has 220 beds.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Broadgreen,five minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGCharges apply.

CARDIOTHORACIC CENTRE

Your hospitals

CLASSIC HOSPITALS

St Walburgas Road, Blackpool,Lancashire FY3 8BPTel: 01253 394188 www.classichospitals.co.uk

AT A GLANCEFylde Coast Hospital has 39 beds andoffers a full range of surgical services.Specialties include heart and nervoussystem treatment, rehabilitation andjoint surgery. It is near the town centre.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: BlackpoolNorth, two miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGFree parking available.

FYLDE COAST HOSPITAL

LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALSNHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Preston Road, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1PPTel: 01257 261222www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe 499-bed Chorley and SouthRibble District Hospital, near Chorleytown centre, offers a full range ofservices. It has one of the region’slargest bone and muscle surgerycentres.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Chorley, one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGLimited. Charges apply.

CHORLEY AND SOUTH RIBBLEHOSPITAL

Your hospitals

NETCARE HEALTHCARE

Tel: 020 7154 7800www.netcareuk.com

AT A GLANCENetcare UK's mobile units, used as NHS Treatment Centres, havebeen designed and built to exactspecifications for cataract surgery.

PARKINGParking available at all sites.

NETCARE MOBILEOPHTHALMOLOGY CHAIN

NUFFIELD HOSPITALS

Meadowside, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 3RHTel: 01524 62345www.nuffieldhospitals.org.uk

AT A GLANCEThis 27-bed city-centre hospitaloffers a wide range of inpatienttreatments including orthopaedics(bones and joints), ophthalmic (eyes),cosmetic and general surgery.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Lancaster, less than a mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGFree parking available.

LANCASTER AND LAKELANDNUFFIELD HOSPITAL

Your hospitals

LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALSNHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Sharoe Green Lane North, Fulwood,Preston, Lancashire PR2 9HTTel: 01772 716565www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe Royal Preston Hospital, north ofPreston city centre, offers a full rangeof hospital services with specialistunits for burns, plastic surgery,kidney function and nervous systemdisorders. It has 1,031 beds and alsoprovides cancer care.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Preston, three miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGLimited. Charges apply.

ROYAL PRESTON HOSPITAL

LIVERPOOL WOMEN’S HOSPITAL NHSFOUNDATION TRUST

Crown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L8 7SSTel: 0151 708 9988www.lwh.org.uk

AT A GLANCEThis 230-bed hospital, in Liverpoolcity centre, specialises in theprovision of healthcare for womenand babies. Specialties include:maternity, neonatology,gynaecology, reproductive medicine,breast surgery and genetics.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Liverpool LimeStreet, five minutes by taxi. Buses: Mersey Travel 0151 236 7676.

PARKINGCharges apply.

LIVERPOOL WOMEN’S HOSPITAL

Your hospitals

SALFORD ROYAL HOSPITALS NHSTRUST

Stott Lane, Salford, Lancashire M6 8HDTel: 0161 789 7373www.srht.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe 819-bed Hope Hospital is ateaching hospital four miles west of central Manchester. It offersspecialist dermatology (skin),orthopaedic (bones and joints) andrenal (kidney) services. It is a nationaltreatment centre for intestinal failure.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Eccles, 15 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGCharges apply.

HOPE HOSPITAL

SOUTH MANCHESTER UNIVERSITYHOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe,Manchester M23 9LTTel: 0161 998 7070www.smuht.nwest.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe Wythenshawe Hospital is a largeteaching hospital with close links tothe University of Manchester. It has703 beds and provides a full range ofsurgery for inpatients, outpatientsand day cases.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest station: Sale, two miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGLimited. Charges apply.

WYTHENSHAWE HOSPITAL

Your hospitals

ROYAL LIVERPOOL ANDBROADGREEN UNIVERSITYHOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Prescot Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L7 8XPTel: 0151 706 2000www.rlbuht.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe 998-bed Royal LiverpoolUniversity Hospital in centralLiverpool specialises in urology(urinary tract), gastroenterology(stomach), renal (kidney),haematology (blood) andophthalmology (eyes). It is also a centre for research.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Lime Street, 15 minutes walk. Buses: Merseytravel hotline 0151 236 7676.

PARKINGNo on-site parking.

ROYAL LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITYHOSPITAL

ROYAL LIVERPOOL CHILDREN’S NHSTRUST

Alder Hey Hospital, Eaton Road, WestDerby, Liverpool L12 2APTel: 0151 228 4811www.alderhey.com

AT A GLANCEThis 317-bed hospital providesgeneral paediatric services for thelocality and specialists for most areasin children’s medicine. Specialtiesinclude bone marrow transplant,burns, cleft lip and palate, cancer,kidney replacement, cardiac andspinal injuries.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Broad Greenstation, one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGFree parking available.

ROYAL LIVERPOOL CHILDREN’SHOSPITAL

Your hospitals

SOUTHPORT AND ORMSKIRKHOSPITAL NHS TRUST

Wigan Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 2AZTel: 01695 577111www.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEOrmskirk and District GeneralHospital, with 150 beds, has a centrefor elective surgery, including aTreatment Centre where patients canhave range of tests and treatments inone visit. Also at the hospital are:children's services, including 24-hourA&E; women's services; a full rangeof outpatient clinics; and an AdultMinor Injuries Unit.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Ormskirk, 15 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGCharges apply.

ORMSKIRK AND DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL

SOUTHPORT AND ORMSKIRKHOSPITAL NHS TRUST

Town Lane, Kew, Southport,Merseyside PR8 6PNTel: 01704 547471www.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe Trust's adult A&E and Traumaservices are based at 320-bedSouthport and Formby DistrictGeneral Hospital, as are all acutemedical services. There is also a fullrange of outpatient clinics, as well asMRI/CT scanning, a Medical/Oncology Day Unit and the NorthWest Regional Spinal Unit.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Southport, 30 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGCharges apply

SOUTHPORT AND FORMBYDISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Your hospitals

WALTON CENTRE FOR NEUROLOGYAND NEUROSURGERY NHS TRUST

Lower Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside L9 7LJTel: 0151 525 3611www.thewaltoncentre.co.uk

AT A GLANCEThe 130-bed Walton Centre, inLiverpool, is the UK’s only single siteintegrated neuroscience (nervoussystem) NHS Trust. These services are provided on site and supportedby a network of satellite clinics.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Fazakerley, 10 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGOn-site parking is available. Free Parkand Ride service.

WALTON CENTRE FOR NEUROLOGYAND NEUROSURGERY

WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGHNHS TRUST

The Avenue, Leigh, Lancashire WN7 1HSTel: 01942 672333www.wwl.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe Leigh Infirmary has 87 beds. It provides diagnosis and recoveryservices and elective surgerytreatment. It is close to Leigh towncentre.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Atherton, two miles. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGLimited. Charges apply.

LEIGH INFIRMARY

Your hospitals

ST HELENS AND KNOWSLEYHOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Marshalls Cross Road, St Helens,Merseyside WA9 3DATel: 0151 426 1600www.sthkhealth.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEClose to St Helens town centre, the232-bed St Helens Hospital providesa wide range of services to the localpopulation.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: St HelensCentral, one mile. Buses: Merseytravel hotline 0151 236 7676.

PARKINGCharges apply.

ST HELENS HOSPITAL

ST HELENS AND KNOWSLEYHOSPITALS NHS TRUST

Warrington Road, Prescot,Merseyside L35 5DRTel: 0151 426 1600www.sthkhealth.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe 739-bed, Whiston Hospitalprovides the local population withgeneral medical, surgical, children’sand maternity services. It is also theregional specialist centre for burnsand plastic surgery.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: Prescot, 15 minutes walk. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGNo on-site parking.

WHISTON HOSPITAL

Your hospitals

WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGHNHS TRUST

Wigan Lane, Wigan, Lancashire WN1 2NNTel: 01942 244000www.wwl.nhs.uk

AT A GLANCEThe Royal Albert Edward Infirmary isa redeveloped hospital with 513 bedsproviding emergency and acuteservices. It is close to Wigan towncentre.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTNearest train station: WiganWallgate, one mile. Buses: Traveline 0870 608 2 608.

PARKINGLimited. Charges apply.

ROYAL ALBERT EDWARDINFIRMARY

Your hospitals

Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust HHI l l l l l l l l l

Cardiothoracic Centre - Liverpool NHS Trust HHI l l l l l l l l l

HHI l l l l l l l l l

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust HHI l l l l l l l l l

Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust HHH l l l l l l l l l

HHH l l l l l l l l l

Royal Liverpool Children’s NHS Trust HHH l l l l l l

Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust HHH l l l l l l l l l

South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust HHH l l l l l l l l l

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust HII l l l l l l l l l

St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust HHH l l l l l l l l l

Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust HHI l l l l l l l l l

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust HHH l l l l l l l l l

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Healthcare Commission statistics Patients’ views

How does your Hospital Trust score?

l Excellent

l Good

l Average

l Below average

l Poor

Though regulated by the Healthcare Commission, published performance ratings for Independent Sector Treatment Centres and private hospitals are not currently available.For more information, please see individual hospitals' websites, www.dh.gov.uk or www.healthcarecommission.org.uk

Check against the coloured chart to see how your Hospital Trust measures up.Go to the next page for more on what these ratings mean.

Please turn the page for an explanation of the other ratings.

What do the ratings mean?

The overall ratingsThe Healthcare Commission is the independentregulator of healthcare, and is responsible forassessing and reporting on the performanceof healthcare organisations on an annualbasis. For NHS Trusts, this involves issuing an annual performance rating. This overallrating is made up of a number of performanceindicators. The indicators show how Trusts aredoing in relation to some of the main targetsset by the Government for the NHS, as well as other broader measures of performance,such as information from surveys of staff andpatients. The indicators chosen for publicationin this leaflet are those that the HealthcareCommission and Department of Health believematter most to patients.

The 2005 NHS performance ratings werepublished in July 2005 and cover the yearending 31 March 2005. They place NHS Trusts in England into one of four categories:• Trusts with the highest levels of performance

are awarded a rating of three stars.• Trusts with mostly high levels of performance,

but not consistent across all areas, areawarded a rating of two stars.

• Where there is some cause for concernregarding particular areas, Trusts areawarded a rating of one star.

• Trusts that have shown the poorest levels of performance receive a rating of zero stars.

If a Trust has a low rating because of poorperformance on a number of key targets andindicators, this does not mean that a hospitalis unsafe, that it does not contain some verygood clinical services or that the staff are notworking hard in often difficult circumstances.It does mean that performance must beimproved in a number of key areas.

A new approach to assess and report on theperformance of healthcare organisations hasbeen developed for 2006, which looks at amuch broader range of issues. In Autumn 2006,the Healthcare Commission will publish theassessment of the performance of healthcareorganisations for England for the year endingMarch 2006.

Healthcare Commission statisticsInpatient waiting timesThis column shows how well your hospitalshave done at getting patients into hospital fortreatment as quickly as possible. The targetthey were measured against was six monthsfrom the time when the hospital doctordecided that treatment was necessary.www.nhs.uk has the latest waiting timesinformation.

Cancelled operationsThis column shows how often your hospitalscancelled booked operations for non-medicalreasons (e.g. equipment being out of action,no bed being available or staff being away).

Outpatient waiting timesThis column shows how well your hospitalshave done at getting patients into hospital for a clinic appointment following GP referral.The target they were measured against was13 weeks from GP referral. www.nhs.uk hasthe latest waiting times information.

Management of riskAll hospitals need to make sure they arereducing the possibility of things going wrongand, if something does go wrong, makingsure it won’t happen again. The Departmentof Health issues standards to help hospitalsachieve this, and this column shows how wellyour services have done on achieving these.

Central Manchester and Manchester Children’sUniversity Hospitals NHS Trust

Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen UniversityHospitals NHS Trust

n/a n/a n/a

Hospital cleanlinessOnce a year, hospitals have to assess theirlevels of cleanliness and report them to theDepartment of Health. This column showshow your hospitals have done.

MRSA infectionOne of the things that patients are most worried about is catching the infection MRSA(Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus).It can be a very nasty infection, but it isactually quite rare in comparison to thenumber of patients who receive hospital careeach year. People do not always catch it inhospital – they may already have it before theyenter hospital. But hospitals have to record allMRSA bloodstream infections, whether or notpatients have contracted them in hospital.This column gives an indication of the numberof cases of MRSA bloodstream infections andwhether the Hospital Trust has been successfulin reducing the number of cases since lastyear. MRSA rates may vary depending on thetype of patients the hospital treats. You canfind out more about MRSA infection from theDepartment of Health website (www.dh.gov.uk),which includes a complete breakdown of allTrusts’ rates and A simple guide to MRSA. Orvisit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, the NHS Directwebsite.

What patients saidIn 2005 the Healthcare Commission publishedthe results of a survey of patients who hadattended outpatient clinics. These columnsinclude the results against questions that asked:

Access and waitingHow long did you have to wait for anappointment to be seen in a hospital clinic?Was the appointment cancelled? Were yougiven a choice of times for your appointment?

How long did you wait to be seen after youhad arrived in outpatients? Were the reasonsfor any waits explained?

Cleanliness and comfortHow clean were the outpatient department and toilets? Was it easy to find your wayaround? Patients were also asked how theyfelt the hospital staff had treated them – forexample, did hospital staff talk in front of youas if you were not there, and did staff respectyour privacy?

Information providedPatients were asked questions about howsatisfied they were with information theyreceived. Were the reasons for tests ortreatment explained? Were you told what to expect? Were you given information aboutthe medication that was prescribed for you?Were you given the name of someone youcould contact if you were concerned after you left?

About the Healthcare CommissionThe Healthcare Commission exists to promoteimprovements in the quality of healthcare andpublic health in England. It has a wide range of responsibilities, all aimed at improving thequality of healthcare. These responsibilitiesinclude assessing the performance of healthcareorganisations, awarding annual performanceratings for the NHS and coordinating reviewsof healthcare by others. For more informationabout the Healthcare Commission, go towww.healthcarecommission.org.uk or ring0845 601 3012.

What’s a specialty?There are several different specialties, each with its own team of doctors.For example, some doctors will specialise in treating orthopaedics (bonesand joints), while others will specialise in ophthalmology (eyes).

What’s an outpatient appointment?An outpatient appointment is when you visit the hospital to see a doctorwho will examine you so that she or he can diagnose what the problem isand think about what the best treatment will be.

What’s a day case?Simple treatments are often done as day cases. This means you will notnormally stay overnight.

What’s inpatient treatment?Inpatient treatment is when you go into hospital to have your treatmentand stay overnight.

What’s elective treatment?Most treatment is routine or ‘elective’. This simply means your treatment is planned in advance rather than you needing emergency treatment. Routine treatment usually takes place during normal working hours,although occasionally some hospitals work at weekends.

What’s a GP with a Special Interest?Sometimes, rather than going to a hospital or clinic, you may be able tochoose to be treated by a GP with a Special Interest. These are GPs whohave extensive training and experience in their specialty as well as their GP qualifications.

What does the medical jargon mean?Here’s a guide to some of the medical language used in this booklet.