*NHS Digital must be quoted as the source of these figures
*Regional data are available within this report
15 August 2017: Annual patient-led assessments of non-clinical elements of care such as food and waiting areas have been published by NHS Digital1 today.
Now in their fifth year, Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE)2 involve teams going into NHS and private/independent hospitals to assess how the environment supports the provision of clinical care.
PLACE assessments are undertaken by teams of health care staff and members of the public. The public members of the team, who comprise at least half of the assessing team, are known as patient assessors3.
Their assessments4 look at areas such as privacy and dignity, food, hydration, cleanliness and general building maintenance, as well as the extent to which the environment is able to support the care of those with dementia.
An additional assessment of how well healthcare environments support the provision of care to those with a disability was introduced last year.
This assessment focuses particularly on issues of access such as wheelchairs, mobility (such as handrails) and signage, as well as provision of visual/audible appointment alert systems and hearing loops.
Today's report covers the assessments for 2017, with comparable historical data where available.
Read the full report at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/patient-led-assessments-of-the-care-environment-place/patient-led-assessments-of-the-care-environment-2017-england
ENDS