Visit to Chorley Hospital July 2024
Healthwatch Lancashire participated in an engagement event at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital on Tuesday 16th July 2024 from 8:15am-11:30am.
We spoke with patients entering and leaving the hospital, and volunteers during this time about different health and social care services including the hospital.
Questions asked included:
- How did you travel to your appointment today?
- How did you find accessibility within the hospital?
- Is there anything you’d like to share about your experience today?
Overall, 25 patients shared their views about the hospital and care they had received.
An overview of the visit showed that patients were happy with the care they were receiving at the hospital via different departments and the wait times for appointments.
There were two main themes that came from the visit:
- Parking facilities, particularly confusion around where to go once in the hospital
- The change of blood clinic, and the walk to get to it
We would like to thank the staff and volunteers that helped us on the day and for their continued support in Healthwatch. We are keen to continue working together moving forward and look forward to establishing the views of the community.
Below are the answers that we received during the visit to Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.
“I’ve been to audiology this morning, I got dropped off and I was in and out. The care was brilliant, and I can’t fault the staff here at the hospital they are all incredible.”
“I have been to the fracture clinic today; I was in on time and didn’t need to wait long which was good.”
“I have been for an MRI scan, and everything was wonderful. I had no wait at all and went straight in.”
“The orthopaedic and fracture clinic are incredible. I travel from Blackpool to see the spinal team and I can’t fault their care. I’ve had two operations now and they have been amazing with me.”
“I came for a blood test today and didn’t realise it had moved, I parked on this car park thinking it was still here and I was given a piece of paper to find the clinic.”
“I have been driving around for 30 minutest to find a parking space, all that time I was worrying I would be late for my appointment.”
“Physio teams are very good, I’ve bene twice now and the care is really good. Ive had to be dropped off as parking isn’t great and once, I was late because of the parking even though I set off early.”
“I came in for a blood test this morning and didn’t know it had moved. It took me 15 minutes to find the blood clinic and then a 10-minute walk back to the car park, the waiting room is much smaller as well.”
“I visited urology today and we were seen on time which was good. We were treated very well, and all explanations were very clear.”
“I went to the eye clinic this morning, the parking was very hard, but I eventually got one, my appointment was on time, and I was treated very well.”
“This is the first time I have been to the hospital and the parking is horrific, the spaces are very small, and we were driving around for over half an hour to find a space. The ramp access to the hospital was very out of the way and not straight forward. I feel they need to look into accessible parking and more disabled spaces.”
“My dad has mobility problems and can’t walk very far. He has a blue badge but there are no disabled spaces left, I can’t really leave him but had to leave him in the entrance this morning to go and find a space. I asked if I parked in the drop off will someone validate my parking and I was told I couldn’t do that. What are disabled people supposed to do?”
“There is a big wheelchair problem, I’ve brought someone via ambulance today to an appointment and I’ve come into reception to get a wheelchair and there are none. I had to go walking around the hospital to find a wheelchair.”
“I’ve had an x-ray today; the parking was difficult but then everything else was smooth. I only waited five minutes, the staff were welcoming, friendly and clear. I’ve ended the see the hospital regularly over the past 12 months and its always been good.”
“I attended the Winstanley ward after earlier surgery, I was dropped off at 8am and the access was easy. I was first on the list so there was no wait. The staff were great throughout. The directions in the hospital weren’t the best but a volunteer was there to help but told me that the volunteer porter only arrives at 11am to show people to places, what about people before that?”
“I came for an appointment yesterday and had to wait 45 minutes for a porter to take me to my appointment. I’ve been told to come back today for a blood test, and they’ve just told me there’s no wheelchairs available and I’ll have to walk myself as there will be an hour wait for a porter. I was with a physical aid so its not easy for me to get around the hospital, I walked to the blood clinic today, but it took me 30 minutes to do that.”
“The care is very good, but the blood clinic just isn’t working, it took me so long to get there, the waiting room was so busy, the chairs weren’t accessible, and I was waiting over an hour for my bloods. “
“I had a spinal operation booked for today after a cancellation and they have turned around to me and told me that they can’t do the operation due to a missing test. I got all prepared and now this has happened, my anxiety is through the roof and I’ve now to travel to Preston Hospital to have this test. I was told I would now need to be put back on the wait list, but I don’t understand as this wasn’t my fault but a communication fault within the hospital.”
“I have come for another blood test today and was very hopeful it had moved back but then I was given a piece of paper which wasn’t accessible to get to the blood clinic.”
“Urology is very good; I was in on time with no delay. i was told to come for a blood test last week and I feel this wasn’t accessible at all and the chairs are definitely not accessible for different people.”
“I visited the x-ray and orthopaedic department, neither kept me waiting and I was in and out very quickly. The staff treated me very well.”