Just two hospital sites across the NHS and private sector were rated “poor” in this year’s patient environment action team inspection results, published by the NHS Information Centre.
The PEAT ratings compare favourably with last year’s, when three NHS hospitals and two private hospitals were rated poor in one of the three inspection categories – environment, privacy and dignity, and food.
The two sites rated poor this year were the Brunel Lodge, run by Devon Partnership Trust, and the maternity unit at the Royal United Hospital Bath. The Brunel was rated as poor for patient environment while the maternity unit scored badly for privacy and dignity.
The Brunel Lodge closed on 30 August, when staff and patients were transfered to a refurbished unit in Torbay.
Once again no sites were rated as “unacceptable” – the lowest rating given by this voluntary programme, which has taken place since 2001 and is based on self assessment backed by external validation.
This year all eligible NHS organisations, covering 1,222 hospitals, took part as well as 141 independent hospitals.
Overall, 93 per cent of NHS hospitals and 88 per cent of independents achieved a rating of “good” or “excellent” for environment, compared with 87 per cent and 83 per cent, respectively, in 2010.
On food standards, 98 per cent of health service hospitals and 78 per cent of independent hospitals achieved a good or an excellent rating, compared with 96 per cent and 73 per cent in 2010.
For patient and dignity ratings, 99 per cent both of NHS hospitals and independents achieved a rating of good or excellent, compared with 96 per cent and just under 99 per cent, respectively, in 2010.
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