Patient Environment Action Team Programme

HC Deb 16 September 2003 vol 410 c630W

20. Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the patient environment action team programme. [129968]

Mr. Hutton

We have recently worked with a larger number of NHS colleagues to refine the PEAT process in the light of experience to date. This review confirmed that the system has been a major factor in ensuring that all hospitals meet acceptable standards or better in terms of the patient environment. The NHS is to be congratulated for the progress it has made. The PEAT programme has been extended to include Mental Health and Accident and Emergency units, demonstrating the importance we continue to attach to this, and the need for the NHS to continue to focus on high standards.