Measuring the quality and quantity of information-giving to in-patients

Community health councils (CHCs) were set up in the United Kingdom in 1974 as part of the reorganization of health care delivery. They were intended to have a 'watch dog' function, monitoring the quality of health care in their own district and acting as a link between the providers of care and the public, who are the health care consumers. This paper describes a year-long survey undertaken by one CHC to monitor the quality of information-giving in acute hospital care. A large sample of 1500 discharged patients were sent questionnaires relating to satisfaction with information-giving, and a good response rate was achieved. Results indicate a generally high level of satisfaction, particularly relating to information about surgical and other technical procedures. Information was less satisfactory about non-technical aspects of care and about administrative procedures.