Since November 2011 The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has conducted the patient and family satisfaction survey twice a year. The survey helps the RCH understand how our patients and families view the service, quality of care and environment at the hospital.

The first survey this year was undertaken in March and the results were promising. The survey showed improvement across all focus areas, compared to previous surveys undertaken in 2012 and 2011. The survey was distributed over one month by RCH Volunteer Services and 187 responses were collected and recorded by the wards.

The focus areas include anything from things to do and join at the RCH and how staff welcome patients and families to the ward; to disability access and pain relief.

The survey is carried out on the Dolphin, Possum, Sugar Glider, Kookaburra, Koala, Cockatoo, Platypus, Day Medical and Day Surgery wards. For each participating area, our staff use these results to facilitate quality improvement initiatives in their departments.

Two separate surveys are tailored for patients under 12 years of age and patients 12 years and older. Questions range from ‘I/My family were given the MET brochure’ to ‘I enjoyed the food choices given to me’.

The next survey will be undertaken in November 2013.