Publish date: 17 March 2025
Patients rate environment of Northumbria hospitals above national average for third year running
Patients at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust continue to rate their hospital experience among the best in the country, according to the latest national survey.
The trust scored above the national average in all eight assessed areas in the 2024 Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) survey. These annual assessments evaluate non-clinical aspects of hospital environments, such as cleanliness, food, privacy, and overall appearance, aiming to enhance standards across hospitals, hospices, and independent treatment centres providing NHS-funded care.
The trust, which operates hospitals in Northumberland and North Tyneside, ranked first nationally for cleanliness and the combined food category among large acute trusts, achieving an impressive 99% score in both categories. The food category considers factors like choice, availability, and quality, while the cleanliness category assesses the condition of facilities, patient equipment, furniture, and toilets.
Several areas saw improvements compared to 2023, with the condition, appearance, and maintenance category rising by 1.4%.
Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the trust’s estates and facilities subsidiary, plays a vital role in maintaining hospital buildings, facilities, and equipment to enhance the patient experience.
Damon Kent, managing director of NHFM, expressed his pride in the results: "We are thrilled to have achieved our best-ever scores in these assessments. While high-quality medical care is a priority, we know that the hospital environment also plays a crucial role in a patient’s overall experience. These outstanding results are a testament to the dedication of our catering, facilities, and domestic teams, who work tirelessly to maintain the highest standards for our patients."
Beyond environmental factors, the trust also saw improvements in privacy, dignity and wellbeing, and was placed top nationally among large acute trusts in this category.
Chief executive, Birju Bartoli, highlighted the significance of these achievements: "Hospitals can feel intimidating for many people, so ensuring a positive experience is essential. These remarkable results reflect the hard work and dedication of our staff, who continuously strive to provide the best possible environment for our patients. Our commitment to putting patients at the heart of everything we do is evident in these impressive outcomes."