MORE than three-quarters of patients are happy with their treatment at Great Western Hospital.

The findings come from the Healthcare Commission's latest patient satisfaction survey.

Almost 500 patients who stayed overnight at GWH were surveyed, with 77 per cent rating the hospital "excellent", "very good" or "good".

The hospital scored well on ambulance crews treating patients with dignity (97 per cent), having reassuring ambulance crews (96 per cent), enough privacy during examinations (95 per cent) and confidence and trust in doctors (89 per cent).

The majority of patients (88 per cent) said they were treated with dignity and respect during their stay.

But hospital food was not as popular. Just 53 per cent of patients surveyed were happy with the food they were given.

The hospital also lagged behind on providing patients with copies of letters between it and their regular doctors (16 per cent) and asked just five per cent for their opinions of the care they were receiving.

But it was above the national average in its three areas with low scores.

South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove said the survey was a good result for the hospital but there was more to do.

"Patients are rating care at Swindon's GWH highly," Mrs Snelgrove said.

"More patients are feeling the benefit of faster access to the hospital.

"However, there is always more work to do patients are still sending that message."

GWH spokeswoman Teri Stevans said the hospital trust was pleased with the survey results.

"But we wouldn't want to be complacent and we will continue to strive to improve," she said.

The survey is one of the biggest assessments of the views of patients on the treatment and care they receive while in hospital.

The survey captures the experiences of more than 80,000 adult patients who stayed overnight between June and August last year in one of the 169 NHS acute and specialist trusts in England.

Now in its third year, the survey describes how patients' attitudes have changed over time.

Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said the survey showed a worrying lack of help for patients who need it most.

"Providing patients with the right information, in the right format and at the right time is crucial to their treatment and recovery, yet so many tell us that they are not receiving this," Ms Walker said.

"At a time when we are all concerned to encourage care in the community, and patients favour this, it is essential that we get it right. The survey also raises important questions about the service patients get on wards."

"A worrying number of patients who needed help with eating reported a lack of such help, a concern also highlighted in our recent reports on the care of older people and our survey of stroke patients.

"It is absolutely essential that people get the help that they need with eating as good nourishment plays such an important role in patient care and recovery.

"We will assess trusts' performance in this area rigorously."