Friends and family recommendations

In September 2026, 99% of inpatients said they were extremely likely or likely to recommend QVH to their friends and family.

Some of the patient feedback we received during the month included:

Burns unit: “I felt very supported by everyone on the ward. Nothing was too much trouble and I had the help I wanted, whether that was practical help or a listening ear – this made a huge difference to how I felt.”

Critical care unit: “These guys are amazing. Above and beyond every time. I have been to a few different hospitals and this is by far the best. I can’t thank the team enough.”

Corneo department: “The staff were very helpful and professional; the technician who undertook my tests was kind and talked me through what she was going to do. I felt comfortable and cared for.”

Margaret Duncombe ward: “The whole team has been absolutely incredible. All my needs have been managed immediately with care and professionalism. Honestly, an amazing team.”

Maxillofacial department: “Communication before the appointment was excellent, checking in at the correct department was easy and the staff were welcoming. I was seen before my allotted time. The doctor was efficient, polite and explained the next process.”

Minor Injuries Unit: “Everyone we met was incredible – wonderful bedside manners all round. Thank you for looking after my daughter with such care.”

Peanut (childrens’) ward: “Honestly, everything was good. The staff were all friendly, helpful and efficient, from receptionist to surgeon. Such a fantastic service. I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and caring for my son during a worrying time.”

Plastics department: “All staff were very welcoming and left me feeling very relaxed.”

Pre-assessment: “Both of the nurses I saw were friendly and efficient and answered the questions I had. I felt totally confident about my upcoming operation.”

Ross Tilley ward: “A pleasant experience with lovely, knowledgeable and reassuring staff. Thank you for taking care of me.”

Sleep disorder centre: “Very efficient and friendly service, excellent knowledge.”

You can read more of what patients say about us on our NHS Choices page and on the Care Opinion website.

About the friends and family test

All NHS hospitals publish their ‘friends and family test’ scores each month. It is a simple measure to help the NHS understand how well it is caring for patients and to enable patients to compare the performance of different hospitals and wards.

How are the scores used?

The scores are also collected and published nationally on the NHS Choices website to help patients compare hospitals.

At QVH we like to know what our patients and visitors think of their experience so that we can continue improving. There are a variety of ways we get feedback from patients. See how to feed back for more details.

Because the scores are collected and published monthly they provide up-to-date information on the performance of each ward. We also use patient feedback and data from a wide variety of other sources, including national and local surveys, to help us monitor and improve patient care. These include the national inpatient survey and the national cancer patient survey.

We publish an annual patient experience report which reviews the feedback we have received and sets out progress with our rolling plan of action to improve patient experience.

Actions taken as a result of feedback we have received include:

• Increasing the size of disabled parking bays
• Installing new parking meters which allow an hourly charge, rather than the previous three-hour minimum
• Introduction of media screens in outpatient departments to provide better information about waiting times in the clinics
• Installing self-check in kiosks in outpatients. These make checking-in quicker and more convenient for patients, enhancing confidentiality and free up receptionists to assist patients and respond to queries.

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Page last updated: 13 October 2026