Patients recommend Serco's Suffolk community healthcare services

Patients have highly commended the treatment they are receiving from Suffolk Community Healthcare (SCH), according to a survey last month.

Friends And Family Test results show that almost everyone surveyed in all its services (99%) would be willing to recommend them.

In particular, every single patient who fed back in January at community hospitals and the minor injuries unit in Felixstowe was "extremely likely" or "likely" to recommend them.

Patients described the care they received at Newmarket, Aldeburgh, Felixstowe and Ipswich's Bluebird Lodge as "excellent", with staff "very good and management very good". One patient said: "The nursing staff go out of their way to help you and make you feel human instead of being just another patient. I could not recommend this hospital any higher."

A second said: "The friendliness of the staff is reassuring and they are genuine caring people who have their patients' needs and recovery top of their list. The matron is a hands-on person and her staff respect her and respond to her."

Other people commended the "very friendly and efficient nursing personnel and assistants" and the "exceptionally clean and up-to-date equipment", as well as "the nurses and everyone [who] have been very very good ... everyone is friendly and happy".

Dr Abigail Tierney, chief executive of Suffolk Community Healthcare, which is run by Serco, said: "We are absolutely delighted that so many patients would recommend our care to others. This is a testament to the hard work of all of our colleagues and great news for everyone using the services.

"Despite these excellent results, we will continue to find ways to improve still further. We welcome any feedback and would encourage anyone with a compliment or a concern to get in touch with us."

Anyone who would like to comment on Suffolk Community Healthcare's services can contact Kevin Davis, patient experience manager, by emailing [email protected] or writing to 86 Sandy Hill Lane, Ipswich, IP3 0NA.

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