The results of the 2025 Adult Inpatient survey are in, and the Royal Devon has scored in-line with the national average, receiving positive feedback for respectful and compassionate care.

Participants highlighted their confidence in the doctors and nurses treating them, and their experience of a high level of kindness and dignity while receiving treatment.

For the question ‘Do you think the hospital staff did everything they could to help control your pain?’ the Trust scored higher than others.

Overall, the Trust’s results were the same as most other trusts for 50 of the 51 questions asked.

There were two questions where the Trust scored lower than in the previous year, these were ‘How clean was the hospital room or ward that you were in?’, and ‘Were you ever prevented from sleeping at night by any of the following? Hospital lighting’.

518 patients took part in the survey, a response rate of 44.69%. This was well above the national average of 38%.

Carolyn Mills, Chief Nursing Officer said: “It’s good to see that we are in-line with most other trusts for the vast majority of the survey questions. It is also pleasing that our patients have confidence in our clinicians, and told us that we provide respectful and compassionate care.

“Teams will be taking a good look at the results, particularly the two areas where we scored lower than last year, to see what changes we can make to further improve our inpatient care experience.”

The 2025 Adult Inpatient Survey involved 130 NHS trusts in England. Patients were eligible for the survey if aged 16 years or older, had spent at least one night in hospital and were not admitted to maternity or psychiatric units. Fieldwork for the survey (the time during which questionnaires were sent out and returned) took place between January and April 2026.

See the Royal Devon’s full report here.