A health survey has rated Exmouth and Budleigh hopsitals among the best in England

EXMOUTH and Budleigh Salterton community hospitals have been rated among the best in England.

A survey organised by the National Patient Safety Agency rated the environment, catering, cleanliness, privacy and dignity afforded to patients at the hospitals as well above the mark.

The NPSA is an arm’s-length body of the Department of Health which aims to contribute to improved safe patient care by informing, supporting and influencing organisations and people working in the health sector.

The environment, food as well as privacy and dignity at Exmouth Hospital were rated ‘excellent.’

At Budleigh Salterton hospital, environment, privacy and dignity were judged as ‘good’ and food ‘acceptable.’

Sally Slade, NHS Devon’s managing director for health and social care, was pleased with the results.

She said they reflected the work done by clinical and support staff to ensure patients were cared for in a pleasant environment and treated with dignity and respect.

“This year’s results show that most patients find our community hospitals pleasant, so for that I’d like to thank our staff for their efforts,” she said.

“Over the past year we have upgraded the facilities at most of our community hospitals through annual deep cleans and planned maintenance, including extensive work on ensuring privacy and dignity for all patients.

“We have worked in partnership with our leagues of friends and comforts funds who have helped us to provide those little extra things that make our patient’s stay that little bit more pleasurable.”

The patient environment action teams programme was established in 2000 to assess NHS hospitals.

Under the programme, every inpatient healthcare facility in England with more than ten beds is assessed annually and given a rating of excellent, good, acceptable, poor or unacceptable.