Weston General Hospital Scores First "Excellent" for Privacy and Dignity and "Excellent" for Food Again

The Privacy and Dignity offered to all patients at Weston General Hospital has been rated "Excellent" for the first time by independent inspectors. The inspectors also rated the food served to patients as "Excellent" for the third consecutive year.Hospital standards of cleanliness also gained a thumbs-up with their fifth consecutive year of a "Good" rating.

This was the outcome of the 2012 Patient Environment Action Teams' (PEAT) inspection by the National Patient Safety Agency.

Each inspection is carried out by a team of local NHS staff including nurses, matrons, doctors, catering and domestic service managers, executive and non-executive directors, dieticians and estates managers. They also include patients, their representatives, and members of the public.

Weston Area Health NHS Trust Director of Nursing Irene Gray said: "This year's PEAT scores are a well-deserved reflection of all the hard work that has gone on in the hospital in these areas over the past year.

"The Trust is committed to high standards to meet the care needs of all our patients. We work hard to deliver a quality service with dignity at the forefront of everything that we do."

Here is a Top Five list of recent improvements or initiatives we have undertaken for Dignity in Care.

• The Trust has a Dignity Policy to advise staff on the correct attitude and manner to use towards all patients.
• We have a Dignity Group where Dignity issues are discussed and action plans to implement change are developed. A patient representative sits on the group and gives feedback and perspective.
• The Trust has more than 25 Dignity champions in all clinical and non-clinical areas. They work closely with managers to ensure dignified care is delivered at all times.
• All staff are mandated to attend Dementia Awareness training and staff Dementia Champions receive specific dementia training.
• The Trust has a Carers policy and a newly-developed Carers leaflet. All policies recognise and value the role of Carers. They are integral to understanding the needs of the patient.

Irene said: "Our patients' Exit Cards which they fill in on the day they go home overwhelmingly show that the food we serve and the choices we offer are meeting with their approval.

"We also take cleanliness very seriously and are pleased to have maintained our good record throughout the year.

"We had NO cases of hospital-acquired MRSA throughout the whole of 2011/12, which in itself tells you that the hospital is the cleanest and safest it has ever been."These successes are a credit to our staff and our patients, who do so much to help us keep vigilant in our battle against infection.

"We are however, never complacent, and are continually appealing to patients to help us by pointing out any suggestions they may have for improving in these areas still further."

For further information contact Caroline Welch on 01934 647091