THE Royal Bolton Hospital may have received two stars in the recent survey, but the proper analysis of the results merely highlights the deficiencies of the league tables.

The Bolton Evening News report did not include the category scores. These showed that a score of three (average) out of five for the in-patient survey (relating to patients' perception of the environment, cleanliness, staff, and catering on the wards) was awarded and not the highest possible score stated in the report.

They are relatively unimportant matters compared with patients' opinion of the time waiting for a first consultation, then admittance and the medical or surgical treatment they had received. The Government conveniently omitted from the survey these matters of major importance to patients.

Scores of one (significantly below average) were given for "Death within 30 days of surgery" and "Post discharge emergency re-admissions". A computer system error is an unacceptable excuse from the hospital, particularly when they are dealing with matters of life and death. These results and the explanation should give the people of Bolton considerable cause for concern.There have been improvements at the hospital, but in order to meet Government targets, these seem to have been at the expense of medical and surgical efficiency.

Earlier this year, there was no soap in a toilet on one ward and, despite a patient telling two staff at different times and a notice stating that the toilet was inspected regularly, it was 2/3 days before soap appeared. The notices on the litter bins in wards warn staff that, if they touch the lids, they are contravening the hospital's policy to prevent the spread of infection, but these are ignored by almost all staff. Hardly any staff wash their hands between handling patients. At 9am on July 25, 2002, I used the male toilet on the main corridor to find that there was no soap. The notice stated that it had been inspected at 8.25am. I looked again at 10.15am and there was still no soap. It is thus not surprising to read that so many patients pick up infections in hospitals, and yet the report stated that the Royal Bolton had received the highest possible score for cleanliness. The notices may have impressed the survey team, but are pointless if they are not acted upon.

The two star award will do little to restore the confidence of those who have had long waits in A & E or have already suffered from mistakes made during medical and surgical procedures. They will find it hard to believe the remark of John Brunt, Chief Executive, that "we are now one of the best".

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address supplied)