Patient experience

Surveys of patient experience reflect views on how well health care is working for patients. Your views are important to us.

Growing evidence tells us that patient experience is a good indicator of the quality of health services. Better experience, stronger partnerships with consumers, and patient and family-centred care have been linked to improved health, clinical, financial, service and satisfaction outcomes.

Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission conducts three national surveys to enable the collection, measurement and use of patient experience information on a regular basis. In July 2020 Te Tāhū Hauora ran an additional survey to explore patients’ experience of care during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Adult hospital inpatient experience survey

The adult hospital inpatient experience survey covers four key domains of hospital inpatient experience: communication, partnership, co-ordination and physical and emotional needs. Every three months, a national selection of adult patients from all district health boards (DHBs) who spent at least one night in hospital are invited to take part.

Adult hospital outpatient experience survey

Quarterly adult hospital outpatient experience surveys are commencing in five hospitals. The survey programme will expand to all hospitals later this year.

Adult primary care patient experience survey

The adult primary care patient experience survey provides information about what patients’ experience in primary care is like and how their overall care is managed between their general practice, diagnostic services, specialists and/or hospital staff. Every three months, a national selection of adult patients enrolled with and seen by participating general practices are invited to take part.

COVID-19 patient experience survey

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way health care in New Zealand has been delivered. The COVID-19 survey explores patient experience of care during this time. The goal is to give health services a better understanding of what worked well and for whom it worked (and didn’t). This was a one-off survey, undertaken from 22 June–29 July 2020.

Read the frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 survey.

For all questions about the surveys please contact survey@hqsc.govt.nz.

Survey results

Visit our survey results page to see the results of our patient experience surveys.