“The system change we introduced resulted in a marked increase in referrals, improved multidisciplinary communication, and more consistent delivery of timely, person-centred care,” according to Lorna McEvoy , Acute Intellectual Disability Liaison Nurse at St James’s Hospital, reflecting on how the 2024 National Inpatient Experience Survey became a “catalyst for change.”
Lorna was commenting as the seventh National Inpatient Experience Survey got underway in recent weeks. The survey will see more than 30,000 patients across 40 public hospitals in Ireland being invited to share feedback on their recent hospital stays.
Part of the National Care Experience Programme, the survey aims to identify what is working well within acute hospital services and where improvements are needed. The initiative is jointly led by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Mental Health Commission and the Department of Health.
Reflecting on the 2024 experience, Lorna explains how “results from that survey - Ireland’s sixth National Inpatient Experience Survey - showed that while inpatient care is generally rated highly, patients with intellectual disabilities continue to report poorer experiences, particularly around communication. It provided clear evidence of the need to strengthen pathways of support and embed more inclusive practices across the hospital.”
In response, the hospital introduced a number of improvements, including a streamlined referral process for the Intellectual Disability Liaison Nurse service and increased staff awareness around the needs of patients with intellectual disabilities. A key development was the introduction of an electronic referral form integrated into the hospital’s electronic health record system.
Building on the success of these measures, St James’s Hospital is now exploring options to secure permanent funding for the Acute Intellectual Disability Liaison Nurse role to continue delivering inclusive, high-quality care.
The 2026 survey will focus on patients aged 16 and over who are discharged from a public acute hospital during May, following a stay of 24 hours or more. They are being invited to participate if they have a mobile phone number and postal address in the Republic of Ireland.
Feedback gathered through the programme is used to inform improvements to healthcare policy, practice and standards across Ireland’s acute hospital system. An online dashboard providing national, regional and hospital-level responses from previous surveys is also available, giving healthcare providers and the public greater insight into patient experiences nationwide.
Further information on the 2026 National Inpatient Experience Survey is available at Yourexperience.ie and through the programme’s social media channels @careexperience.