A new NHS Information Centre report says that just under one in six NHS and independent organisations in England rates its hospital environment for patients as excellent across the board.
About 15% of NHS and participating independent organisations scored “excellent” for all sites in self-assessed Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) inspections in 2011 across all three sections; Environment, Privacy and Dignity, and Food. This compares with just below 12% in 2010. Most organisations have also improved across the three sections compared to the previous year, with at least four in five achieving “good” or “excellent” in each section. PEAT assessments aim to provide a snapshot of standards across a range of nonclinical activity that impact upon the patient in hospital – from cleanliness and signage to assistance with eating and drinking. Although it is a voluntary programme, 100% of eligible NHS organisations took part in 2011, along with 141 independent hospitals. Hospitals are scored in each of the three categories as one of five grades – ranging from “excellent” to “unacceptable”. In 2011 there were no “unacceptable” ratings and no “poor” ratings in the Food section, but one “poor’ rating in both the Environment and Privacy and Dignity sections. Commenting on the figures, NHS Information Centre chief executive, Tim Straughan, said: “While clinical care is of course paramount for the patient while they are in hospital, their experience from admission to discharge will also be informed by other elements of hospital life – from the condition of the furnishings to the quality of the food. “Hospitals are clearly committed to assessing these elements through the PEAT programme, and this year’s report shows a rise in assessed standards across the board. In fact, no hospital was assessed as having an unacceptable standard for any elements of the inspection.”
