THE Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh has been named Scotland's top hospital for its treatment of people aged 50 and over, according to research from Saga Health Care.
Its study also shows that waiting list times are down and that many more hospitals are now meeting government targets.
Four other hospitals have been judged as providing outstanding service to the over-50s in Scotland - Ninewells in Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary, the Western General in Edinburgh, and St John's in Livingston, West Lothian.
The survey, Saga's second of its kind, looked at how hospitals performed in four main areas that were judged particularly important to this target market. Firstly, quality of care in each hospital - mortality rates and number of doctors and nurses, which gives an indication for each hospital of whether more or fewer people died than would be expected when undergoing the most common operations, and takes into account factors such as age, sex, and diagnosis.
Secondly, patient experience, including cleanliness and confidence in the doctors. Interviewees were asked if doctors explained reasons for any treatment or action, and whether they listened to what patients said. They were also asked if they thought the outpatient department and toilets were clean.
Thirdly, the poll examined patients' confidence and trust in doctors examining and treating them, and gauged infection control - based on a survey into whether a hospital screens patients for the superbug, MRSA, and whether it isolates patients who do have MRSA.
Finally, it looked at access to services, including in and outpatient waiting times, the average time for a hip replacement and a routine MRI scan, and for angiography - the X-ray examination of blood vessels.
The study looked at 223 hospitals in England, 25 in Scotland, and 17 in Wales, and scored their performance on each of the key areas.
Saga Health said Edinburgh Royal's credits for nurses, doctors, MRI scan wait - only 20 days - and the wait for angiography, all took it to the top of the Scottish table. However, it identified areas for improvement in the waiting times for inpatients, outpatients, and hip replacements. Brian Cavanagh, chairman of NHS Lothian, said: "With three of our hospitals featuring in the top five of this survey, and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh coming out top in Scotland, our staff can feel justifiably proud.
"It is a privilege to work with such an enthusiastic team and we hope that our patients feel that they are well-looked after."
The other hospitals also tended to score well on staffpatient ratios and angiography, with waiting times the most likely to cost them points.
The study was compiled for Saga by Dr Foster, the independent health care analysis group.
How they compare rated out of 8
Score: 4 out of 8
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
3 out of 8
Ninewells, Dundee; Perth Royal Infirmary; Western General, Edinburgh; St John's Hospital, Livingston
2 out of 8
Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Gartnavel General, Southern General, Victoria Infirmary, Western Infirmary (all Glasgow)
1 out of 8
Royal Alexandra, Paisley;
Inverclyde Royal; Aberdeen Royal Infirmary; Woodend, Aberdeen; Dr Gray's, Elgin; Borders General; Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary; Queen Margaret, Dunfermline; Victoria, Kirkcaldy
0 out of 8
Raigmore, Inverness; Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary; Monklands; Wishaw General; Hairmyres, East Kilbride; Stirling Royal Infirmary
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