Hospital environment at UHNM exceeds national average for second year in a row

The care environment at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has exceeded the NHS national average for the second year running latest figures show. 

UHNM is above the national average across categories of NHS England's 2024 Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) at both the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford.

The annual assessments see local patient representatives go into hospitals to assess the environment in categories covering everything from overall cleanliness and building maintenance through to disability access and ward food. 

Patient assessors who complete the inspections found the general condition of the estate at the Royal Stoke was “very clean with a focus on the patients, and saw that “staff worked well together and seemed happy in their roles”.

Whilst at County Hospital the “hospital is maintained to an excellent standard”, and “staff in all areas visited were amazing, they were committed and patient centred.” 

Lorraine Whitehead, director of estates, facilities and PFI at UHNM said “Achieving above the national average across all elements of the PLACE assessments for a second consecutive year is an incredible achievement.  I am so very proud of our Estates, Facilities and PFI colleagues who take such pride in the vital roles that they deliver and work incredibly hard, from cleaners to porters, caterers to gardeners, who keep our buildings operational, day-in day-out, and provide such vital support to our clinical colleagues in optimising patient care and enhancing patient and staff experience.   

“I would also like to extend my thanks to all colleagues from across UHNM. These results could not be achieved without the support of many multi-disciplinary teams, and many others and our external partners and contractors, working in successful collaboration to continuously improve the environment and services we collectively provide.  

“All colleagues should be enormously proud of the contribution that they have made, and these results are extra special given it is the voice of our patients that informs the scores.”

The quality of food served on inpatient wards at County Hospital received a perfect 100 per-cent score from the patient representatives. 

Antony Moseley, head chef at County Hospital said: “We are close-knit team who have worked together for a long time and are proud of what we do. I’d like to thank all our staff for all their hard work and dedication, and these latest results make all of it worthwhile.”

The cleanliness of the Royal Stoke received a score of 99.08 per-cent, higher than the national average of 98.31 per-cent. 

Stephanie Brindley, Sodexo domestics manager at the Royal Stoke University Hospital said: “It’s a fantastic result, showing not only how hard the team works, but also how much they care, and that these are the standards they want for our patients. I want to say a massive thank you to each of our staff, who we wouldn’t be able to achieve these scores without.”