Patients rate hospitals high on cleanliness but low on food

Hospitals in England have scored highly in the first results of a new assessment programme measuring patient’s views of non-clinical services.

Initial findings from the Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) programme—a voluntary initiative covering both the NHS and the independent sector—show that hospitals scored an average of around eight out of 10 on measures including catering, the condition of their buildings, and fixtures and fittings.

The highest average scores were for cleanliness, and the lowest were for food and hydration.

The results, published by the Health and Social Care …