FOOD at Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary, and Leighton Hospital, has been given top marks in a national survey.
The standard of food at both hospitals has been rated as ‘excellent’ by the Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT), which is made up of patients, members of the public and NHS staff.
The team assessed the food in a range of areas including quality and choice, as well as initiatives to help patients’ nutritional intake.
PEAT also judged the overall environment at both hospitals had improved in the past 12 months to ‘good’ from last year’s rating of ‘acceptable’. The scores took into account reviews of bathroom areas, decor, lighting, floors and patient areas.
In a new category, both hospitals were rated as ‘good’ for privacy and dignity.
Matron Philippa Pordes works across the medical wards at Leighton Hospital, and will soon take up a 12-month post as the Mid Cheshire Hospital NHS Trust’s new Privacy and Dignity Matron.
She welcomed the glowing PEAT assessment, and said: “It’s great news to see the improvements we have made over the past 12 months.
“We are absolutely committed to ensuring our patients receive their care in the best possible environment and that they are treated respectfully and considerately when they spend time with us in hospital.”
The PEAT team assessed hygiene standards at both hospitals, assessing general cleanliness, toilets and bathrooms and infection control initiatives, as well as elements of the hospital’s physical environment such as lighting and furnishings, car parking and patient access.
