Drax (UK) Ltd. has installed a PEATplus unit into West Suffolk District General Hospital, which is being used as part of an evaluation of public surveys conducted within NHS premises.

PEATplus, a unique system from Drax (UK), is designed to help NHS Trust's to not only optimise their PEAT ratings, but also to significantly improve the amount of information available to Senior Management and those involved with patient welfare. This allows them to take swift corrective action where appropriate, launch and monitor new initiatives, cut costs and improve patient service.

A single, stand alone PEATplus unit was installed in the main reception area at West Suffolk District General Hospital, with an overwhelming response. In just 42 days, the Trust received a staggering 1259 completed surveys, 715 completed by visitors and the remainder by patients - and all with virtually no promotion of the unit!

Jacqui Grimwood, Facilities Project Manager is impressed by the response levels and puts it down to the perceived simplicity of PEATplus: "the unit was really very easy to use. Questions were filtered, so patients and visitors received appropriate questions regarding their visit or stay at the hospital. All answers were delivered via the unit's touch screen which featured symbols of happy to sad faces to select."

West Suffolk District General Hospital used a national ERIC (Estates Reporting and Information Centre) questionnaire in this trial, looking at people's journey's to / from the hospital and their experience of the hospital itself. "We found the survey provided us with an extremely useful overview, rather than detailed information. It allows you to see the negative areas which will then require more detailed analysis. Of course, it also provides you with feedback on the things you are getting right, which is just as helpful. In this survey, 62% of the recorded feedback was positive!"

"Conducting the surveys electronically using this unit means you get immediate feedback whilst it's still fresh in their minds. It allows people to respond very quickly and therefore makes the surveys more effective. It also has the added advantage of saving money on printing and collating the questionnaires."

The data collected is processed and delivered as reports tailor-made to the requirements of the Trust. Reports can be delivered to the appropriate recipients by e-mail, fax or hard copy.

Various different assessments can be designed, targeting individuals or groups. They can also be directed towards specific areas such as hygiene, food or security.

To achieve the broadest possible level of inclusion, staff, patients and visitors may all contribute feedback via PEATplus. Patients can complete questionnaires via their bedside terminals, while visitors can use public terminals such as that installed in the West Suffolk District General Hospital trial. Staff may access PEATplus either through their Trust intranet computer system or via the public terminals. Different PEATplus modules are available for Assessors, Patients, Visitors and Staff.

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