The environment in which people are cared for at Musgrove Park Hospital has been given a resounding thumbs up – by patients themselves.
The results of this year’s NHS England patient-led assessments of the care environment (PLACE) were published yesterday (Tuesday 15 August) and Musgrove Park Hospital has been rated above the national average in seven out of the eight categories.
The hospital was rated 99.89 per cent for cleanliness, 96.26 for nutrition and hydration, 91.84 for availability of food on the wards, 97.50 for the service of meals, 92.03 for privacy, dignity and wellbeing, 93.21 for condition, appearance and maintenance, 86.24 for dementia and 88.69 for disability.
As part of the assessment a group of local people, including hospital governors, Healthwatch Somerset and Foxes Academy, walked around the hospital to check whether the environment supported patients’ privacy and dignity.
They also looked at the quality of food, cleanliness of the hospital and general building maintenance.
This year’s inspection at Musgrove saw improvements in all categories except the condition, appearance and maintenance of the buildings.
Hayley Peters, director of patient care at Musgrove Park Hospital, said: “It is great news that we have again been recognised by our patients for providing such a good care environment. It really is testament to the hard work of staff across the hospital, from our cleaners and healthcare assistants to our nurses, catering and estates teams.
“We are particularly pleased with the improvements identified in our care for people with dementia and those who are disabled, as it follows a series of initiatives we have put in place in these areas.
“In the past year we have been working closely with our food and drink suppliers and outlets at the hospital to offer more healthy and nutritional choices, with fewer high sugar and high fat products now available, so we are pleased this has been reflected in our results.
“The slightly lower score for the appearance and maintenance of our buildings is partly due to the age of some areas of the hospital, such as our Old Building and maternity unit. However, we are planning to make a series of improvements to the environment in these areas.”
PLACE assessments were introduced by the NHS in April 2013 as a way of seeking feedback from patients themselves on how the environment and services at hospitals and other NHS centres could be improved. They are led by patients, with relatives and carers also taking part.
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