Hospitals in England score on average ‘around eight out of 10’ for non-clinical services such as catering and the condition of buildings, fixtures, and fittings, according to the first ever results from the new patient-led assessment programme, PLACE (Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment).
Self-assessments of over 1,300 health premises in England, each led by a team comprising at least 50 per cent patients, point to high average scores across four different category areas – with the highest national average mark for cleanliness, and the lowest for food and hydration. A Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) report published last month set out the first results of the new PLACE programme, a voluntary initiative covering both the NHS and the independent sector. PLACE gives prominence to the role of the public (known as patient assessors), who must make up at least 50 per cent of each assessment team, with two patient assessors as a minimum. There were over 5,800 patient involvements in the 2013 programme. All 1,140 eligible NHS sites (including hospitals, hospices, and treatment centres) carried out self-assessments this spring, along with 218 independent /voluntary sector sites. Under ‘Cleanliness’ (including assessment of bathrooms, furniture, fixtures, and fittings), the national average score was 96 per cent, with 90 per cent of hospital sites scoring over 80 per cent – of which 144 scored 100 per cent. Just one site scored under 40 per cent. Looking at the ‘Condition, appearance, and maintenance’ category (including assessment of decoration, signage, linen, and car parking access), the national average score was 89 per cent. Sixty-eight per cent of hospital sites scored over 80 per cent, of which two sites achieved 100 per cent. Two sites scored under 40 per cent. For ‘Privacy, dignity, and wellbeing’ (including assessment of changing and waiting facilities, appropriate separation of single sex facilities, telephone access, and appropriate patient clothing), the national average score was 89 per cent, with 65 per cent of sites scoring more than 80 per cent. (18 scored 100 per cent). No sites scored less than 40 per cent. In the last of the four categories, ‘Food and hydration’ (including assessment of choice, taste, temperature, and availability, over 24 hours), the national average score was 85 per cent. Seventy per cent of hospital sites scored over 80 per cent, with four achieving 100 per cent.
Credit: Courtesy of In Depth Managed Services
