The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has this week published ratings from its Patient Environment Action Teams programme (PEAT), which assesses all hospitals and inpatient units with 10 or more beds, looking at levels of cleanliness; some aspects of infection control such as hand hygiene; the quality of the environment including maintenance, decoration and lighting; and the standard of food offered to patients. 

The PEAT teams which make the judgements consist of nurses, matrons, doctors, catering and domestic service managers and patient groups, their representatives and members of the public. 

Following an inspection, each hospital is given a score out of ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘acceptable’, ‘poor’ or ‘unacceptable’ in three areas – patient environment, food, and privacy and dignity. 

And this week’s figures show that 87% of NHS hospitals across England – a total of 1,084 – have been rated ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ in terms of patient environment. A total of 96% – 1,143 – also achieved the top two ratings for the quality, choice and availability of food. 

While 219 centres scored ‘excellent’ in all three PEAT categories, two trusts stood out in particular, managing to secure ‘excellent’ ratings in all areas for more than three sites. 

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was praised for the environment and facilities at Tynemouth Court, Berwick Infirmary, Alnwick Infirmary, Morpeth Cottage Hospital, Hexham General Hospital, Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital, Blyth Community Hospital, Wansbeck General Hospital and North Tyneside General Hospital. County Durham PCT was also singled out for praise, scooping top marks across the board for Shotley Bridge Community Hospital, Weardale Hospital, Richardson Hospital and Sedgefield Community Hospital. 

Rosemary Stephenson, director of nursing at the trust, said of its success: “The majority of the trusts which have also seen all of its hospital sites rated as ‘excellent’ have one or two sites, so the fact that we have 10 makes this an even bigger achievement.

“This is a real team effort and we are very proud of all of our staff who have helped us to achieve this rating. It demonstrates the high standards on our wards at all of our hospitals and we are committed to maintaining these high standards.” 

Brian Griggs, director of estates and facilities at the trust, said the trust had invested £1.6m in delivering improvements to the food served at Wansbeck and North Tyneside General hospitals. 

“The PEAT assessments are a valuable way for us to assess how we are doing and identify areas where we can develop improvements,” he added. 

Welcoming the findings, Health Minister, Simon Burns, said: “Patients rightly expected to be treated in clean surroundings with good food and with respect for their privacy. It is reassuring to see that hospitals are building on the improvements already made in these key areas of patient experience. 

“We have started to publish other detailed data on hospitals so that patients can make informed choices about their healthcare, This will truly put patients back at the heart of everything we do.” 

While no facilities were deemed ‘unacceptable’, six received ‘poor’ ratings for the state of the patient environment. Of those, private hospital network, BMI Healthcare, received two ‘poor’ ratings for facilities at the Cavell Hospital in north London and Chelsfield Park Hospital in Kent. 

Responding to the findings, a BMI spokesman told BBH: “BMI Healthcare has an ongoing capital investment and refurbishment programme, which includes initiatives at both Chelsfield Park and Cavell hospitals. Work has already begun at both hospitals, which will significantly improve the areas identified by the PEAT audit.”

Click here for the PEAT report