GOSH performs well in patient-led inspections

GOSH has been rated above average in four categories during its recent Patient-Led Assessment of the Care Environment (PLACE).

PLACE is a mandatory annual assessment of the non-clinical parts of the patient care environment and directly links to Care Quality Commission (CQC) . The purpose of it is to look at the environment through patients’ eyes and identify elements that are performing well or require improvement.

Patient assessors scored standards across five areas at GOSH: cleanliness; food; privacy; dignity and wellbeing; the condition, appearance and maintenance and disability.

The year’s results have shown the Trust scored above the national average in all the categories apart from cleanliness which scored 98.46%, just missing out on the national average score of 98.6%.

GOSH’s PLACE assessment was held on 23 October and was supported by 18 patients / parent representatives.

Anna Aleixes Soares, Facilities manager and lead for PLACE at GOSH says: “We are delighted to exceed national average scores in four out of five assessed domains and only miss the national target by 0.14 percentage. The facilities team, clinical and non-clinical teams and our PLACE champions have worked hard throughout the year to improve and maintain our hospital environment. Thank you to all staff and patients for their ongoing support and much valued feedback and recommendations. Going forward we are committed to continue improving all aspects of the patient’s environment and contribute towards patients care and experience.”

Below is a table showing the 2019 GOSH average scores in comparison to the national average scores for each of the six PLACE domains.

Action plans are now being worked on to address any further improvements identified during the assessment. Thank you to all the staff facilitators and PLACE assessors who have taken part.

PLACE inspections were introduced in 2013 and results are reported publicly to help drive improvements in the care environment and to show how hospitals are performing nationally.

The inspections are not technical audits but are based on the perception of the patient assessors who are the leading the assessments with the support of staff assessors.

To view the official NHS Digital PLACE data please visit their website.