We use surveys to find out what people think of the NHS healthcare services that they use.
The results help assess NHS performance. We also use them for regulatory activities such as registration, monitoring ongoing compliance and reviews.
Recent surveys
Adult inpatient survey 2023
Published: August 2024
This survey looks at the experiences of people who stayed at least one night in hospital as an inpatient.
We found that:
- People’s experiences of inpatient care remain generally consistent with 2022, while remaining poorer than in 2020.
- Most patients reported positive interactions with doctors and nurses, and felt they were treated with both respect and dignity, and with kindness and compassion.
- People’s experiences of waiting times continue to decline compared to previous years.
- Patients feel less involved in decisions about being discharged from hospital, and less certain about their care once they leave.
Community mental health survey 2023
Published: April 2024
This survey looked at the experiences of people receiving community mental health services in 2023.
We found that:
- Many people thought they waited to long for their first appointment and reported that their mental health got worse while they waited for treatment.
- Many people were not always given the help they needed the last time they saw someone, or given enough time to discuss their needs and treatment.
- Results from the survey of people using Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) indicated especially poor levels of treatment and care across most areas.
- Disabled users of services were more likely to report negative experiences for the majority of questions analysed.
Maternity survey 2023
Published: February 2024
This survey looked at the experiences of women and other pregnant people who had a live birth in early 2023, including ethnic minorities in January and March.
We found that:
- All areas of antenatal care improved from 2022.
- Mental health support has shown improvement during antenatal and postnatal care.
- Availability of staff has worsened in during labour and birth, in hospital after birth and during postnatal care.
- Those who had poor continuity of care, report worse experiences during antenatal care, labour and birth and postnatal care.
Urgent and emergency care survey 2022
Published: July 2023
This survey collected information on the experiences of people who received care from urgent and emergency care services.
We found that:
- People’s experience of urgent and emergency care are worse than in previous years, particularly for Type 1 services
- Some aspects of care in Type 3 services remained positive, such as being listened to by health professionals
- Waiting times, staff availability, privacy and pain management have seen significant declines compared to previous years
- Information provided before leaving A&E or the urgent treatment centre remains an area for improvement
Children and young people's survey 2020
Published: December 2021
This survey looks at the experiences of children, young people and their parents and carers attending hospital.
We found that:
- Most children, young people and their parents or carers were positive about their overall hospital experience.
- The majority of children and young people said that staff looked after them well, were friendly, treated them with privacy and listened to what they had to say.
- Children and young people were less positive about their experiences of the hospital food, involvement in decision making and being discharged.
- This year, children, young people and their parents reported that there was less to do in hospital than in previous years.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) inpatient experience survey
Published: November 2020
The survey captured the views of more than 10,000 adults who were discharged from hospital during April and May 2020. We carried it out to gather feedback to help services and local systems plan for and improve future coronavirus care.
Trends in the Adult Inpatient Survey 2005-2014
Published: November 2015
This analysis looks at the experiences of people receiving adult inpatient services over a ten year period.
We found that:
- Patients’ experiences of care have generally been good.
- Most areas we ask patients about have seen little meaningful change or improvement.
- Patients report substantial improvements in areas such as cleanliness and mixed sex accommodation.
- There have been areas of deterioration, for example in waiting times.
Ambulance survey of Hear and Treat callers 2013/14
Published: 2014
This survey looked at the experiences of over 2,900 people who called an ambulance service in December 2013 and January 2014.
We found that:
- Most people were positive, but some did not understand or agree with the advice given at the end of the call.
- Overall, callers were more likely to agree with the decision to not send an ambulance if they had received a full explanation of the reasons.
Outpatient survey 2011
Published: February 2012
This survey collected patients' experiences of their most recent visit to an outpatient department.
We found that:
- More people felt that they were treated with respect and dignity.
- Staff need to improve the way they provide information to patients.
Survey plans and publications
NHS patient survey programme: outline programme and publication dates
More information
About the NHS patient survey programme
Including information about how the programme works, how to find results from previous surveys and where to find survey materials.
For more information, email our patient survey team.