ALMOST half of conversations between medical staff and patients at Ipswich Hospital fail to take place in private, a report said today.A survey into patient privacy and dignity shows 47per cent of patients think their conversations are overheard by other patients.

ALMOST half of conversations between medical staff and patients at Ipswich Hospital fail to take place in private, a report said today.

A survey into patient privacy and dignity shows 47per cent of patients think their conversations are overheard by other patients.

The survey also revealed 17pc of people do not feel like they get long enough to talk about their condition to their doctor and 16pc felt unsafe at some point while on a ward.

And 80per cent said they did not know how to make a formal complaint.

Pru Rush, Ipswich Hospital Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum spokesman, said: “Hospital staff should make sure privacy and dignity is maintained.

“I don't know how staff can make sure all conversations are private, as when you are talking to someone at their bedside it's impossible to stop others from listening.

“Perhaps where possible the patient could be moved into a clinic situation.

“As for 80pc not knowing how to complain, I'm surprised at that. We must make sure they get the information when they come into the hospital. I think it probably is available but not clearly pointed out.

“Compared to the rest of the east of England, Ipswich Hospital shows up favourably in the survey, but there's always room for improvement.”

The report also held positive news for the hospital. From those surveyed, nobody had to wait more than six hours for a bed on a ward, with 70pc waiting under an hour.

And 100pc said they were spoken to politely by nursing staff and doctors.

Jan Rowsell, hospital spokesman, said: “All surveys are valuable to us as they give us information about how we can improve.

“We will pay particular attention to the areas highlighted by the PPI forum and already have an action plan in place.”

The figures were revealed after an investigation by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) to discover the levels of respect and dignity given to patients.

Sharon Grant, CPPIH chairman, said: “Patients are more than flesh and bones, and they have feelings and individual needs. Their experience of being a patient is shaped just as much by the respect they are shown, as by the actual medical treatment they receive.”

n Have you been a patient at Ipswich Hospital? Were you given the dignity and respect you would expect? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk