A NEW survey has revealed high levels of satisfaction with the services provided at the Vale of Leven Hospital – but also low public awareness of many of its services.
A total of 1,341 people took part in a questionnaire to gauge how happy people in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond are with their local hospital.
And 82 per cent of respondents said their experience of care at the hospital had been "extremely positive", with a further 12 per cent rating it "somewhat positive".
Similarly, 81 per cent said their had had an "extremely positive experience" of the hospital's minor injuries unit, while 13 per cent rated it "somewhat positive".
The survey was organised by Toni Giugliano, the SNP's candidate in the Dumbarton constituency at this May's Scottish Parliament election.
Officials from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde promised in December that the Vale hospital's GP out-of-hours service – plagued by repeated closures for the last two years – would be returned its full seven-days-a-week provision by the end of March.
Weekday evening provision resumed in January.
1,341 people took part in a survey gauging public satisfaction with, and awareness of, services at the Vale of Leven Hospital
But according to the results of Mr Giugliano's survey, many long-standing services are largely unknown to local people.
The survey found that:
- 70 per cent are unaware of orthotic (rehabilitation) services
- 57 per cent of people are unaware of the hospital's anti-coagulant clinic
- More than half (52 per cent) are unaware of orthoptic (vision) services
- Over a third (36 per cent) are unaware of the child and adolescent mental health services provided at the hospital
- More than a one in three are unaware of haematology and blood transfusion services
- A third are unaware of cardiac rehabilitation services
The hospital's GP out-of-hours service will be restored in full by the end of March, health bosses have promised
Ninety-two per cent of people who took part in the survey said they or their family have benefited from one of the Vale’s 20-plus outpatient clinics.
However, according to the survey results, most people were unaware of all of the 11 new services that have been established at the hospital since 2015.
The survey found that:
- 82 per cent are unaware of the hospital's fast track geriatric clinics
- 76 per cent are unaware of the advanced triage service for older people
- 75 per cent are unaware of the frailty screening service for older people
- 71 per cent are unaware of the Focused Intervention Team for older people
- Two thirds (66 per cent) are unaware of the haematology day bed unit
- Almost half (47 per cent) are unaware of the work of third sector organisations at the hospital supporting carers and people affected by cancer and dementia
- Almost three-quarters – 71 per cent - said they were unaware of the local phlebotomy service established at the hospital since the start of the pandemic.
The survey found 92 per cent of people were satisfied with the quality of care provided at the hospital
Mr Giugliano said: “The Vale hospital is a lifeline for our communities – people care deeply about its future and feel strongly about keeping services local.
“What’s also clear is that many people are unaware of the broad range of services that exist at the Vale.
"From over 20 outpatient clinics to older people’s services to third sector presence – the Vale is a vibrant and busy hospital and it’s time politicians shouted about everything that goes on there.
"We’ve had over 15 new services, new clinical posts or improvements to the Vale over the past five years – this wouldn’t be happening unless the hospital had a stable future.
“I’m calling on the health board to launch a ‘Vale promotion campaign’ to help inform the community about the new services that have come to the hospital in recent months and over the past five years – people shouldn’t be missing out on vital local support.
“As a mental health worker local people can be certain that if elected I’ll be the hospital’s biggest champion and work closely with groups like Hospitalwatch to bring improvements and more services to the area.”
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