§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the last hygiene spot check inspection in English hospitals took place; and if he will publish the findings. [83294]
§ Mr. LammyThe NHS Plan announced that all hospitals would receive unannounced inspections of cleanliness by independent inspection teams. Since 2000 the patient environment action team (PEAT) programme has been undertaking inspections against a range of environmental criteria, including cleanliness. The PEAT visit is not a hygiene inspection.
This is a continuous programme of inspection, which has seen a massive improvement in the standards seen by patients and visitors alike. A programme of visiting to mental health and learning disabilities sites is currently under way.
The last inspection of acute and community hospitals was undertaken between February and May 2002 and the results of this exercise will be published in due course on the NHS Estates website.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvement has been made by hospitals which had previously been put on special measures as a result of their poor hygiene standards. [83295]
§ Mr. LammyThe NHS Plan said that hospitals would receive unannounced inspections of cleanliness by independent teams.
Since autumn 2000 these inspections have been undertaken by patient environment action teams (PEATs), who assess hospitals against a range of 18 criteria, including standards of cleanliness at ward level and in common areas.
Since August 2001 PEATs have confirmed that there are no hospitals where overall standards are less than acceptable.
However, there are some hospitals where, although overall acceptable levels have been achieved, we felt that there were grounds for additional support to be provided to ensure that standards are maintained and any shortfalls identified remedied.
900WFollowing the most recent PEAT inspections, 52 hospitals were identified where such support has been deemed appropriate. NHS Estates advisers have been working closely with these hospitals, to ensure that remedial action is taken and appropriate systems put in place to ensure that the improved standards achieved are maintained.
To date this action has resulted in 24 of the hospitals being removed from the list of those requiring additional support. We continue to work with the remaining 28 hospitals to ensure that the standards in these hospitals reach and remain at levels which patients expect and have a right to receive.