Patient experience report: Altrincham Hospital

About this report

We spoke to 325 people about their experience of services at Altrincham General Hospital. 

Recommendations 

• The accessible stair strips placed at the top of the accessible ramp outside the hospital be removed (in the UK they indicate that someone is at the top of stairs and are therefore not appropriate at the top of a ramp) to avoid accidents for visually impaired visitors using a cane.
• Healthwatch Trafford continue to work alongside Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT) managers and staff to ensure that issues identified in this report are included and addressed in the current CMFT action plan for blood service. 
• Improve signage – directing people to different departments as well as lifts / stair area as they enter through main hospital entrance. For example, some people are queueing for blood service drop-in at main reception when, with better signage, they would go straight to first floor blood service services.
• Signs indicating floor numbers to be in large print for visually impaired people.
• Notification of anticipated waiting times to be developed for patients accessing Minor Injuries Department & patient comments regarding Minor Injuries scheduling to be reviewed
• Hospital information leaflets in a range of accessible formats to be produced, including information on disabled parking that can be distributed widely (including GP Surgeries).