Patients do not care about having a choice of hospitals but do want clean ones and to be treated with dignity, a Healthcare Commission survey suggests.
Nine out of 10 patients treated in NHS hospitals in England are happy with their experiences, a survey suggests.
The findings were in a survey of 80,000 patients in England which found 90% were happy with their hospital stay.
But 25% of respondents said they were not always treated with respect and 10% said they were put in mixed wards.
But almost a quarter said they were not always treated with respect and 10% said they were put in mixed wards.
The Healthcare Commission said its survey of 80,000 patients was a "vote of confidence" in state care although there was room for improvement.
The government defended its policy to give patients more choice saying these were not "either/or" options.
The survey also found patients did not care about having a choice of hospitals - a government priority.
They were more worried about having clean hospitals and being treated with dignity.
We all hear a lot of negative comment about the NHS, but we must never forget that most patients have consistently rated the overall quality of their care as good or excellent Anna Walker Healthcare Commission
We all hear a lot of negative comment about the NHS, but we must never forget that most patients have consistently rated the overall quality of their care as good or excellent Anna Walker Healthcare Commission
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Of course patients want doctors they can trust, but that doesn't mean they don't also want choice or believe that hospital cleanliness is important.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Of course patients want doctors they can trust, but that doesn't mean they don't also want choice or believe that hospital cleanliness is important.
"These are not either/or questions."
"These are not either/or questions."
The Picker Institute carried out the large annual survey of patients in more than 167 acute and specialist NHS trusts in England.
The Picker Institute carried out the large annual survey of patients in more than 167 acute and specialist NHS trusts in England.
Informed decision
Informed decision
At the same time they asked 448 participants what aspects of care were most important to them.
At the same time they asked 448 participants what aspects of care were most important to them.
Choice of admission date or hospital and having enough information about hospitals to make an informed decision, as per government policy, were ranked at the bottom of 82 issues.
Choice of admission date or hospital and having enough information about hospitals to make an informed decision, as per government policy, were ranked at the bottom of 82 issues.
Results from the main survey showed nine out of 10 patients rated their stay in hospital as good to excellent in 2006.
Results from the main survey showed nine out of 10 patients rated their stay in hospital as good to excellent in 2006.
The vast majority of patients said their ward or room had been very clean or fairly clean.
The vast majority of patients said their ward or room had been very clean or fairly clean.
And about 70% of patients said doctors and nurses always washed or cleaned their hands between patients.
And about 70% of patients said doctors and nurses always washed or cleaned their hands between patients.
But about 22% of patients said they were not always treated with dignity and respect.
But about 22% of patients said they were not always treated with dignity and respect.
Although trusts are supposed to provide single-sex hospital wards and bathrooms more than one in 10 respondents who had a planned stay said they had been in a mixed-sex ward or room.
Although trusts are supposed to provide single-sex hospital wards and bathrooms more than one in 10 respondents who had a planned stay said they had been in a mixed-sex ward or room.
'Fresh drive'
'Fresh drive'
Almost one in three said they had used a bathroom or shower area that was also used by the opposite sex.
Almost one in three said they had used a bathroom or shower area that was also used by the opposite sex.
About 20% of patients also complained they did not get help with eating when they needed it.
About 20% of patients also complained they did not get help with eating when they needed it.
Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said a "fresh drive" was needed on dignity but only a minority of trusts were to blame.
Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said a "fresh drive" was needed on dignity but only a minority of trusts were to blame.
"Patients have the right to expect all hospitals to get the basics right, like offering help with eating and answering calls for assistance.
"Patients have the right to expect all hospitals to get the basics right, like offering help with eating and answering calls for assistance.
"It is also clear that for a significant minority of patients, the NHS is performing below standards on segregated accommodation."
"It is also clear that for a significant minority of patients, the NHS is performing below standards on segregated accommodation."
But she added: "We all hear a lot of negative comment about the NHS, but we must never forget that most patients have consistently rated the overall quality of their care as good or excellent."
But she added: "We all hear a lot of negative comment about the NHS, but we must never forget that most patients have consistently rated the overall quality of their care as good or excellent."
'Endorsement'
'Endorsement'
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "Staff should take great pride from this endorsement of the care they provide day in day out."
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "Staff should take great pride from this endorsement of the care they provide day in day out."
Reducing the use of mixed-sex accommodation is a core priority over the coming year, she added.
Reducing the use of mixed-sex accommodation is a core priority over the coming year, she added.
British Medical Association consultants' committee chairman Dr Jonathan Fielden said: "It is gratifying that this survey reflects the immense efforts from doctors to improve the quality and experience of care for their patients despite the financial pressures placed upon the health service."
British Medical Association consultants' committee chairman Dr Jonathan Fielden said: "It is gratifying that this survey reflects the immense efforts from doctors to improve the quality and experience of care for their patients despite the financial pressures placed upon the health service."
He added they had said for years that patients have more interest in the kind of treatment they receive than where they receive it.
He added they had said for years that patients have more interest in the kind of treatment they receive than where they receive it.
"It is the political meddling that gets in the way, diverts attention and leads to so much of the waste."
"It is the political meddling that gets in the way, diverts attention and leads to so much of the waste."
Does your experience in hospital match the findings of this survey? Send us your comments by filling in the form below.
Does your experience in hospital match the findings of this survey? Send us your comments by filling in the form below.
