PATIENTS have given the emergency department at Basingstoke hospital the thumbs up – rating the department positively in a national survey.

The accident and emergency department survey 2012 results have been published by the Care Quality Commission.

It shows that Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs the hospital, in Aldermaston Road, performed better than most other trusts in several areas.

Patients rated their experience, the respect they were shown, and the dignity they were treated with, as better than in other emergency departments.

HHFT was also commended for the way in which doctors and nurses interacted with patients and their families, and for consistency of communication, with patients saying they did not get mixed messages from staff about their care.

The trust performed better than others in explaining to patients which tests were needed, getting test results before the patient was discharged, and for the way in which staff explained the results.

Dr John Kitching, Hampshire Hospitals clinical director for unscheduled care, said: “Emergency departments operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we see people in what can be highly stressful situations.

“High-quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do, and like all our hospital teams, my staff are caring and committed to doing their best for patients every day. To see this reflected in these results is extremely pleasing.”