Introduction:
A patient satisfaction survey is an integral criterion of the assessment of the quality of a health care unit. It allows for adjusting the health care unit to the patient›s needs and expectations, and it also influences the development of a positive image of the unit on the health care provider market.

Aim of the study:
The aim of the study was to recognize the opinion of patients in conservative wards concerning the level of satisfaction with heath care provided at a district hospital, according to their place of residence.

Material and method:
The patient satisfaction survey was conducted over two consecutive years from December 2011 to January 2012 and in February 2013) with the participation of 160 and 148 patients, respectively (the questionnaire return rate ranged from 87% – 94%) in 5 hospital wards at the Independent Public Health Care Unit in Kraśnik. Questionnaires prepared by the author were the research tool. Statistical analysis for the significance of the patients’ place of residence was performed.

Results:
In the nursing care module, nurses’ kindness and prompt responses to being called (2013 – 98.6% of ‘good’ scores), while information provision and availability in the afternoons and at night scored the lowest (in 2012, approx. 7% ‘bad’ and ‘sufficient’ scores). Physician’s work received good scores in general. However, every 7–14 patient gave a ‘sufficient’ or ‘bad’ score in every category. The greatest irregularities were noted regarding the time devoted to patients and provision of information (every 7 th and every 6 th patient gave a ‘bad’ or ‘sufficient’ score, respectively). The statistical significance for the place of residence was confirmed for the food quality and availability of shops.

Conclusions:
Regular patient satisfaction surveys concerning hospital care may contribute to its improvement and ensuring a level consistent with patients› and service providers› expectations. The satisfaction of hospitalized patients depended on the place of residence.