Hospitals score top marks from agency’s survey

Colchester General Hospital, in Turner Road, and Essex County Hospital, in Lexden Road, were given “excellent” ratings for all three categories in the National Patient Safety Agency inspections.

The Fryatt Hospital, in Main Road, Dovercourt, got “excellent” grades for food and dignity, and “good” for environment.

Clacton District Hospital, in Tower Road, scored “excellent” for food and “good” for dignity and environment.

Peter Murphy, chief executive of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “These results are very gratifying.

“They are down to the hard work of many staff, and not just our people, but also those working for catering and cleaning company Carillion.

“We realise there is still more work to be done, but I know our new chairman and chief executive share my passion and that of our staff to continue to focus on making improvements.”

Mr Murphy and interim chairman Sir Peter Dixon are due to step down next month and will be replaced by Dr Gordon Coutts and Sally Irvine.

John Mills, head of the Clacton and Harwich hospitals at NHS North East Essex, said: “Running a hospital is a real team game and we are fortunate to have an excellent team in place and a system which ensures any shortcomings are quickly rectified.

“The findings demonstrate our two community hospitals have risen to the challenge of public expectation and are delivering a quality service within a pleasant and safe environment.”

The National Patient Safety Agency assesses all hospitals and inpatient units with ten or more beds each year. It sends in a Patient Environment Action Team made up of medical staff, patient representatives and members of the public.

They examine levels of cleanliness, infection control, the quality of the environment, such as decoration, maintenance and lighting, as well as the standard of food offered to patients.

The hospitals are given ratings of excellent, good, acceptable, poor or unacceptable.