Patient experiences while on North Bristol NHS Trust waiting lists for elective surgery - March 2024

1. How long have you been on the waiting list? (time since your referral date) 

• Less than 1 month
• 1 - 3 months
• 4 - 6 months
• 7 - 9 months
• 10 - 12 months
• More than 1 year
• Not sure 

2. What operation are you waiting to have?

3. What was the initial wait time you were told to expect?

4. Has that been extended? 

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

5. If you have been waiting more than 40 weeks (9 months) and do not yet have a date for treatment, have you been told you are eligible to select a different hospital where you may be treated sooner?

• This questions does not apply to me (I have been waiting less than 40 weeks)
• No, I have not been told about this
• Not sure
• Yes, I have been told about this (please say how you heard about this in the box below)

6. During your wait for your operation how would you rate the communications you have received from the hospital?

• Poor
• Fair
• Good
• Very Good
• Excellent
• Not sure
• Prefer not to say 

7. How has the hospital communicated with you about your operation waiting status? (tick all that apply) to a Carer, partner, family member or advocate?

8. Were you happy with this communication method?

• Yes
• No

9. How could communications sent out by the hospital be easier for you to understand or receive?

• Accommodate my need for language translation
• Accommodate my need for British Sign Language interpretation
• Provide EasyRead versions
• Provide Large Print versions
• None of the above
• Not sure
• Prefer not to say
• Other (please specify)

10. Do you require communication to be directed to a Carer, partner, family member or advocate?

• No
• Yes

11. Do you use any digital methods to find health information (laptop, tablet, phone, computer)?

• Yes
• No
• If you answer no, please tell us why

12. Have you been directed to any of the following websites for health information while you are waiting? (tick all that apply)

• My Planned Care NHS (myplannedcare.nhs.uk)
• NBT information for patients and carers (nbt.nhs.uk/patients-carers)
• NHS website (www.nhs.uk)
• DrDoctor (drdoctor.co.uk)
• I have not been directed to any of these
• Prefer not to say
• Other (please specify)
• Please tell us what you found useful or not useful and why?  

13. What other ways have you received health information about your operation?

• Printed leaflets
• In-person consultation with a doctor, nurse or other health professions
• Phone consultation with a doctor, nurse or other health professionals
• None of the above
• I prefer not to say
• Other (please specify)

Please tell us what you found useful or not useful and why?  

14. While you have been on the waiting list, have any of these happened regarding the operation you are waiting for? (tick all that apply) 

• I have needed to contact my GP to help me manage the condition I am waiting to have an operation for
• I have needed to visit A&E to help me manage the condition that I am waiting for an operation for
• My operation has been cancelled
• I have been offered a date for my operation but could not attend.
• None of these

15. While you have been on the waiting list, has anything else happened to your health or wellbeing? (Tick all that apply)

• The health condition you are waiting for an operation for has become worse.
• The health condition you are waiting for an operation for has improved.
• You have developed a different physical health problem, or one has got worse.
• You have developed a mental health problem, or one has got worse.
• You have lost or might lose your job or income.
• You have missed out socially.You have made healthy lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking or becoming more active.
• You have experienced unhealthy consequences while waiting such as becoming less active.
• Experienced loneliness or isolation.
• None of these.
• Other (please specify)

16. Do you feel you have received all the information and support you have needed about your operation?

• Yes
• No

17. If you would like more support or information, which of the following would you like? (tick all that apply)

• Help to prepare physically for my operation.
• Help to prepare mentally for my operation.
• Help to manage an ongoing health problem.
• Help to prepare for my recovery.
• Help from my local community.
• Help from others going through something similar.
• None of these.

Is there any specific help you would like? (Please give examples below. You might wish to include things like healthy eating, weight loss, exercise and staying active, stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol, pain management, what to do if you get worse / have urgent symptoms, something else)

18. What would be the easiest ways for you to access this sort of health information?

• Online website
• Leaflets
• By telephone
• Wellbeing support in your local area
• Prefer not to say
• Other (please specify)

Appendix 2: listing of social media posts

Facebook: 

• KINGSWOOD (Bristol) PEOPLE OFFICIAL PAGE
• Stockwood Community
• BS13 COVID-19 response (Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe & Withywood)
• Up Our Street (Easton and Lawrence Hill)
• Brislington Community Forum
• Southville, Ashton and Bedminster Information Board
• St Annes Community Group (Bristol BS4)
• Filton News and Views
• Emersons Green, Downend & Mangostfield Grapevine
• South Glos residents
• Patchway Post
• Mangotsfield Matters

X (formerly Twitter):

• Professionals working either at (i.e. staff) or with NBT
• Bristol Somali Community Association
• NBT (main account)
• NBT Patient Experience Team

Appendix 3: Easy Read leaflet

Download our Easy Read leaflet for this project below.