‘Excellent’ Ottery hospital in review coup

OTTERY St Mary Hospital bagged the best possible review ratings for the second year running, a recent survey has revealed.

Health chiefs say the Keegan Close facility’s environment, food and the privacy and dignity afforded to patients were labelled ‘excellent’ across the board.

“It is fantastic we have maintained this perfect score,” said Ottery hospital matron Janet Mckay. “Our new housekeeper and her team do a fantastic job in maintaining high standards within the hospital.

“Cleanliness in hospitals is everyone’s responsibility, so well done to all staff members, in particular the domestic team, who do an amazing job at Ottery,” she added.

Patient Environment Action Teams (PEAT) checked NHS hospitals in England to gauge standards.

Inspections are carried out by NHS staff including matrons and doctors, patients and their representatives, and members of the public.

Cleanliness, hand hygiene and the quality of accommodation and food- from the perspective of the patient- are all reviewed and given one of five scores ranging from ‘unacceptable’ to ‘excellent’.

Facilities like Ottery’s hospital, run by the Northern Devon Healthcare Trust, were included in PEAT assessments that took place between January and March.

All of the region’s community hospitals were all rated as ‘excellent or ‘good’.

Kate Lyons, Northern Devon Healthcare Trust’s operations director, said: “We are pleased that our community hospitals have scored so well in the latest PEAT assessment.

The issues of cleanliness, food and privacy are very important to patients and we do all we can to provide our patients with an excellent service and experience.”