Patient Environment Improves University Hospitals Bristol Nhs Foundation Trust

6 July 2009

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust has received mostly good and excellent scores in this years PEAT (Patient Environment Action Team) assessments, carried out by the National Patient Safety Agency.

PEATs were established in 2000 to assess NHS hospitals. Under the programme, every inpatient NHS healthcare facility in England with more than ten beds is assessed annually and given a rating of excellent, good, acceptable, poor or unacceptable. The teams consist of NHS staff, including nurses, matrons, doctors, catering and domestic service managers, executive and non-executive directors, dieticians and estates directors. They also include patients, patient representatives and members of the public.

For the first time, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust has received an across-the-board excellent score for the quality of food served in all its hospitals.  Privacy and dignity scores also improved - in 2009, the Trust received three good ratings and three excellent ratings, compared to 2008 when there were five good ratings and one excellent.

This years PEAT scores:

Bob Pepper, Director of Facilities and Estates, says: Were delighted that all the hard work were putting in to improving the environment for our patients has been recognised in this assessment.

Were confident that we will further improve on these scores as we continue to invest our resources in refurbishing wards and toilet/bathroom facilities.  Work to bring the Trusts older wards in line with new guidelines for single sex accommodation will also improve dignity and privacy for patients.

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Media contact: Adrian Ruck, Media Relations Manager, or the press office, on 0117 342 3629.