This letter provides information on the new system for assessing the
quality of the hospital environment, which replaces Patient Environment
Action Team (PEAT) inspections from April 2013. PLACE assessments will
apply to all hospitals delivering NHS-funded care, including day
treatment centres and hospices. PLACE assessments put patient views at
the centre of the assessment process, and use information gleaned
directly from patient assessors to report how well a hospital is
performing in the areas assessed – privacy and dignity, cleanliness,
food and general building maintenance. It focuses entirely on the care
environment and does not cover clinical care provision or staff
behaviours. The assessments will be undertaken annually, and results
will be reported publicly to help drive improvements in the care
environment. The results will show how hospitals are performing
nationally.
