A study conducted by doctors at Mount Carmel Hospital shows that the majority of patients have greatly praised the level of dedication and quality of care delivered by nursing staff and other allied healthcare workers.

Negative comments regarding the infrastructure and treatment of patients at Mount Carmel Hospital have made rounds on numerous media portals throughout the year. The doctors who conducted the report highlight that such comments can have a negative impact and demoralize the staff working at the hospital, and hope that the findings will emphasize the gratitude patients’ show towards the level of care received while being admitted.

The study took form of a questionnaire, which was compiled and disseminated by Dr Daniela Zammit, with the help of Dr Beppe Micallef Trigona, Dr Rachel Taylor-East, Dr Gabriel Ellul and Dr Emma Camilleri and took place over a span of six months, January and June 2018. The main focus of the study was on patients receiving care at the Mixed Admission Wards, and to obtain qualitative feedback from those individuals who completed their inpatient stay.

The questionnaire did not seek to obtain any identifiable patient information and allowed respondents to freely express any concerns or comments at the end of the questionnaire. A total of 40 respondents participated in the study; respondents were selected only if their in-hospital sty exceeded 48 hours but was not longer than eight weeks in duration, and provided that no patient was diagnosed with conditions which lead to cognitive impairment, such as dementia.

They were specifically asked to comment on the quality of care they received, the quality of the hospital infrastructure, and the approach adopted by their caring staff when tending to their clinical needs.

According to the doctors, positive feedback was obtained particularly on the rehabilitation services offered by the hospital, as well as the communal activities organised by the staff. The report highlights that those patients whose in-hospital stay was brief registered an increased satisfaction rating compared with those whose in-hospital stay was lengthy.

The report stated that male respondents were more satisfied with the information they received from their caring staff on the care they were being given. Female respondents, on the other hand, were more satisfied by the events organised by the staff, as well as the staff’s support in assisting their rehabilitation to the re-achieve normal everyday functioning.

Many respondents conveyed words of praise for the professionalism and empathy shown by their nurses, doctors and carers. They also specifically highlighted the friendships which many patients developed with their caring staff, while others took the time to describe how, despite the difficulties of requiring in-hospital stay; their experience was a positive one. The survey highlighted that many respondents remarked on how their stay at the Hospital helped them realise their dire need to restructure their daily schedule, whilst also providing them with a new perspective towards life.

 

The need for refurbishment and more bed spacing in Mount Carmel Hospital

Respondents taking part in the study also made use of this opportunity to express their dismay on a number of issues. Most notably, a significant proportion of respondents commented on the need for refurbishment of the hospital’s infrastructure.

Others remarked on the need to ensure adequate bed space so as to promote individual privacy. This would also enable the proper allocation of patients who may have different needs and may thus require more specialised care.

According to the doctors who conducted the study, they hope that such findings will continue to put pressure on the need for Mt Carmel Hospital to undergo extensive refurbishment and renovation works. The doctors state that the study concludes that the professionals working in Mt Carmel Hospital are respected and appreciated by many patients who require their care. The findings also go hand-in-hand with the statement issued by Maltese Association of Psychiatric Nurses, whereby it was made clear that the professionals working in this sector strive to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness. The doctors highlight that Mt Carmel Hospital does not rely solely on its infrastructure, but more importantly that the psychiatric inpatient care relies on the professionalism and care shown by those who attend to the patients’ needs.