Good score for hospital tidiness

Hospitals in Stafford and Cannock have been given a clean bill of health in an annual spot check on tidiness and food quality.

Patients and staff gave the thumbs-up to Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust.

The trust runs Staffordshire General and Cannock Chase hospitals.

Staffordshire General Hospital achieved "good" ratings in all three areas assessed by the Patient Environment Action Team during the unannounced inspection. Meanwhile, the team rated Cannock Chase Hospital "excellent" on food quality and on ensuring privacy and dignity for patients, with a "good" rating for cleanliness.

Trust chief executive Martin Yeates today welcomed the assessments.

"We are extremely pleased that our hospitals have again scored so highly in these crucial areas that impact so heavily on a patient's experience in hospital," he said. "We are particularly happy that our quest for our hospitals to be 'the cleanest places in town' is supported by our high score on patient environment, which includes cleanliness and tidiness.

"We know that the quality of the food, the tidiness of the surroundings and the level of dignity offered to patients together contribute enormously to their general well-being and recovery."