Cleanliness is an ‘important factor in hospital choice’

Hospital cleanliness and low infection rates were selected by most patients as an important factor when choosing a hospital, according to a new study.

The National Patient Choice Survey by the Department of Health found 74 per cent of patients consider cleanliness and infection rates to be a deciding factor in which hospital they wished to be treated at.

It was also revealed the percentage of patients recalling being offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment was 46 per cent in December 2008, the same as in September and up from 30 per cent in the first survey – which was conducted in the middle of 2006.

There has also been an improvement in awareness in recent times. The results show 50 per cent of patients were conscious they had a choice of hospitals for their first appointment before they visited their respective GP – up from 48 per cent in September and 29 per cent in the 2006 survey.

Published in January of this year, the NHS Constitution established a new right to make choices about NHS care.