Sussex hospitals given mixed reports on standards

Teams visited the county’s hospitals to check on services including cleanliness, catering, privacy and dignity and the condition and maintenance of buildings.

The checks are part of the new Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment programme carried out at hospitals around the country.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust scored above average for all areas but East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust was below average for each of the four sections.

MORE:

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, scored well for cleanliness and food and drink, but was slightly below average for privacy and the condition of its hospital buildings.

The checks included assessments of bathrooms, furniture, fixtures and fittings, signs, car parking access, changing and waiting facilities and appropriate separation of single sex facilities.

There were also inspections of the choice, taste, temperature and availability of food.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals chief nurse Sherree Fagge said: “We are grateful for the time the patient representatives put into this important initiative and it is vital we listen to and learn from their feedback.

“All of our staff work hard to maintain and improve services across the trust and it is encouraging this is reflected in the findings.

“But it is clear from what patients have reported that we still have work to do in some areas.”

Western Sussex Hospitals director of nursing and patient safety, Cathy Stone, said: “We know that cleanliness, food, privacy and dignitymatter deeply to our patients, and so it is hugely encouraging to see that our staff are considered to be doing so well in getting those fundamental things right.”

Stuart Barnhill, assistant commercial director for facilities services at East Sussex Healthercare said: “We are committed to achieving high standards.

“The publication of these figures is the first opportunity we have to compare ourselves with other Trusts and we will work to raise our standards.