LOS ANGELES: People whose friend or relative died in a hospital have rated their end of life care “significantly lower” than those whose loved ones died in a hospice, skilled nursing home or at home.
Figures show seven out of 10 (69%) rated the care received in hospital as outstanding, excellent or good, with hospices receiving the top score of 83%, followed by skilled nursing homes (82%) and at home (79%).
One aspect of care measured was how much staff treated the patient with dignity and respect, with hospitals again receiving the lowest rating. Just 53% of those asked said they “always” felt hospital nurses treated their loved one with dignity and respect, while the figure was 59% for hospital doctors.
This was in contrast to doctors in hospices (88%) and hospice nurses (85%).
Overall, one in 10 (10%) people rated the care their friend or relative received as poor.
One in every eight (13%) said they felt the patient did not have enough support to eat or receive nutrition while a third (33%) of those questioned said they felt the hospital services did not work well together with GP and other services outside the hospital.
The Survey of Bereaved People collects information on the quality of care provided to a friend or relative in the last three months of life…