Eight of 10 inpatients at Wigan's hospitals report having a 'very good experience' in a new survey

Patients who stayed in Wigan’s hospitals said they were treated with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect during their care, it has been revealed.

The Adult Inpatient Survey 2025 results for 130 trusts have been shared by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which captures real patient feedback on aspects of care such as admission, ward environments, and post-hospital discharge.

Overall, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) scored eight out of 10 when patients were asked if they felt they had a “very good experience” while in hospital.

The trust saw strong local engagement, with a 43 per cent response rate, which was well above the 38 per cent national average, with patients sharing high feedback around their direct interactions with ward staff.

WWL’s highest overall scoring areas were:

•           Kindness and compassion (8.9/10)

•           Respect and dignity (8.9/10)

•           Confidence and trust in doctors (8.9/10)

•           Confidence and trust in nurses (8.3/10)

Kev Parker-Evans, chief nurse at WWL, said: "I want to thank everyone who took the time to give us their feedback following their hospital stay. I’m pleased to see we have been highlighted for kindness and compassion, and for the dignity and respect we show our patients. These are at the heart of everything we do.

“While these findings show great progress, our journey does not stop here. Through ongoing initiatives like our Fundamentals of Care programme, we are bringing colleagues together to champion compassionate, high-quality care, making sure every patient consistently receives excellent, safe and dignified care.

“My thanks go out to all our staff whose tireless dedication and compassionate care have made these results possible.”

WWL performed particularly well in supporting patients as they transitioned back to their homes, scoring “better than expected” nationally for post-hospital health and social care support (7.3/10 vs 6.3 national average) and “somewhat better than expected” for post-discharge planning (8.5/10).

Care delivered via the trust’s virtual wards also scored highly at 8.1/10.

The survey highlighted areas where things could be made better for patients, including discharge planning and ensuring patients and their families feel fully involved in decisions about their treatment plans.

The CQC Adult Inpatient Survey is just one of the ways the trust gathers people’s views to improve the patient experience.

Joanne McAllister, head of patient experience and engagement, said: "Listening directly to our patients is fundamental to how we improve and shape our services. These results highlight the valuable work happening across the trust around listening, inclusion and belonging - ensuring that every individual feels heard, respected and supported throughout their care journey."

While the national survey offers a vital annual snapshot, WWL encourages continuous, real-time feedback throughout the year.

Patients, families and carers can share their experiences through several routes, including reaching out to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), a dedicated team providing confidential support, resolving immediate concerns and receiving compliments or suggestions. Email PALS directly at [email protected].