How was your inpatient stay?
At Northern Care Alliance, we believe providing high-quality care for each person is fundamentally important. We are excited to announce that, in January 2026, the NHS is launching a major survey on people’s experiences of their hospital stay. If you had an overnight hospital stay during November 2025, you could be invited to give feedback on the quality of care and treatment you received.
In last year’s survey, we received 381 responses from patients aged 16 and over, who used the survey to tell us what is working well and what requires improvement. We listened to your feedback.
How your feedback makes a difference
Insights from national patient surveys are used at every level to improve care. NCA analyse the data to identify strengths and areas for improvement, often creating action plans for wards, departments, and entire organisations. Many of the recommendations from national surveys are already reflected in existing plans, informed by other feedback sources such as Friends and Family Test, complaints, incidents, and Observe, Listen and Act reviews.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) also uses these results to guide inspections, monitor risk, and assess quality across NHS providers. Your feedback helps shape better services and ensures patient experience remains at the heart of care.
If you are invited to take part, you will receive a letter with information on how to complete the survey online using a computer, tablet or your mobile phone. If you prefer to complete the survey on paper, a paper questionnaire will be sent in a later mailing.
Participation will not affect your care in any way. The survey is confidential, and your answers will not be shared with our staff.
The survey is carried out by the Care Quality Commission and a dedicated Survey Coordination Centre at Picker.
The results will be published in the summer of 2026 and will be used to assess NHS Trusts in England. What we learn will enable us to identify key priorities, aiding our mission to provide the very best care and treatment for you and our community. Have your say and make a difference to your local hospital services.
The NHS Adult Inpatient Survey has Section 251 (NHS Act 2006) approval to process contact details.
For more information about the survey, please visit the CQC website.