During our inspection visit conducted 5 January 2012 to the accident and emergency department we talked with a number of patients who had been admitted to the department.

Patients told us they had been happy with their care and kept well informed, for example, explaining “care had been really good”. They explained how staff had been friendly and helpful with more than one patient stating that “staff were lovely” and another patient stating “staff were excellent, very caring and very concerned [for the patient]”.

Both inpatient and outpatients surveys indicated that Sheffield Teaching Hospitals scored highly on patients being treated with respect and dignity. They also scored highly on questions relating to nutrition.

The wards we visited both had 28 patients’ beds. There were 14 patients based in single sex bays and 14 patients in single rooms.

Patients told us that the staff offered them the opportunity to have a say in how their needs could be met, had taken note of their views, had explained their treatment to them and would listen to them. Patient’s comments included; “Perfect staff, I’ve been alright here, they all treat me well, they treat me with respect you see”. And, “Staff are absolutely brilliant, kind and thoughtful”. Four relatives told us the staff were considerate of people’s needs. One relative said, “We are very happy with the way all the staff care for and speak to my relative”.

Overall, patients told us that staff offered them appropriate support to meet their personal care needs. Patients we spoke to said they had no concerns or complaints about their care or treatment at the hospital.

On the wards we visited they had strategies in place to ensure patients’ nutritional needs were met. There were “protected meal times”, which means that patients are not disturbed during their meals, and nutritional assessments and care plans. We spoke to seven patients and four relatives to find out whether their hydration and nutritional needs were met during their hospital admission. Patients told us they had access to drinks and snacks at all times. One patient said, “There is always ample to drink, they fill up water jugs all the time”. And “We can have toast or a biscuit if we get hungry”. Two relatives told us that the staff were monitoring (their relatives) food intake.

We asked patients for their views of the food served to them. They told us;

“I’m satisfied with the meals they’re alright”.

“Food, I think it’s very good, I can have a choice, but I just eat what’s given me, doesn’t worry me what I eat”.

Overall we found the organisation of the mealtimes on the wards were different. On one ward we saw patients experienced a more organised service led by senior staff. This was observed to positively affect the patient experience.

Our rating of the hospital stayed the same. We rated the hospital as good because we rated the domain of responsive as outstanding and we rated safe, effective, caring and well-led as good.