THE emergency department at Salisbury District Hospital is among the best in England and Wales, according to a national patient survey.

Patients up and down the country were asked to rate the service they received in A&E departments by answering questions such as: “Did the doctors and nurses listen to what you had to say?” and “How long did you wait before you first spoke to a nurse or doctor?”

Thirty-five questions were spread across eight sections — arrival at A&E, care and treatment, waiting times, doctors and nurses, tests, hospital environment and facilities, leaving A&E, and overall experience.

Salisbury scored better than most other trusts in five categories, and was about the same as other trusts in the remaining three.

Peter Hill, chief executive of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust said: “Despite significant pressure experienced by our staff throughout the year, our A&E continued to provide very high standards of care that matched the very best in the country.

“Looking at the way our patients viewed our service, from the moment they arrive in the department to the time they leave, it is pleasing to see that our patients rated their overall experience highly.”

The trust scored the highest mark in the country on three of the individual questions — the opportunity to discuss anxieties or fears with staff, getting enough information about their treatment, and getting help from doctors and nurses when required.

Salisbury also beat or matched neighbouring hospitals in Bath, Bournemouth, Poole, Southampton, Winchester and Yeovil in six of the eight categories, coming a close second the remaining two.

“This is was an excellent report which highlighted the professionalism and commitment of our staff and the way in which they look after people who need emergency care at Salisbury District Hospital,” said Mr Hill.

During 2014, a questionnaire was sent to 850 people who had attended Salisbury A&E during January, February and March, and 369 patients responded.

The department has drawn up an action plan to improve service in its lowest scoring areas, which included telling patients about drug side effects and how long they would have to wait to be examined.

The report noted that A&E patients felt more threatened by other patients or visitors than in 2012. Overall, Salisbury’s 2014 results were similar to those from 2012.