Frequently asked questions
A PEAT assessment examines standards, from a patient's perspective, in three main areas at each site:
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Environment: cleanliness, decoration, linen, furniture and state of repair
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Food: quality of food and its nutritional value
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Privacy and dignity: the quality of sleeping accommodation as well as toilet/bathroom facilities
PEAT is conducted annually. In 2010 trusts were asked to conduct the assessment between
January and March 2010.
PEAT was established and developed by NHS Estates in 2000 as a benchmarking tool to ensure improvement in non-clinical aspects of patient healthcare experience. The NPSA took over management of PEAT in 2006 after the closure of NHS Estates. PEAT was established following the publication of the NHS Plan in 2000.
The scores tell us how well individual healthcare providers believe sites are performing in the key areas including cleanliness, food and nutrition, infection control, hand hygiene and design of buildings.
Hospital food and cleanliness are at the heart of patient confidence in healthcare. PEAT assesses these standards every year and highlights areas for improvement and facilitates the sharing of best practice across the NHS.
NHS organisations are each given scores from 1 (unacceptable) to 5 (excellent) for standards of environment, food and dignity and privacy within their buildings. The NPSA publishes these results every year.
Yes. Assessments are conducted by trusts and they are free to choose which staff conduct the assessment. NPSA recommend involving patients as well as staff from estates and facilities, domestic, catering, nursing and dietetic departments. Some trusts also involve patient forum representatives. Results are fed back to the NPSA and shared among the NHS, Care Quality Commission, Monitor and Department of Health.
This process of self assessment follows methods used for regulation by the Care Quality Commission and Monitor. The NPSA provide independent validation for a number of trusts each year, ensuring the assessment is conducted fairly.
There are a variety of factors that can affect the score awarded to an individual hospital site. The NPSA recommends that sites with a low score produce an individual action plan for improvement. Any member of the public who has concerns about the scores awarded to their local hospital should contact the hospital directly for advice or help.
PEAT does not directly measure a site's performance in preventing and controlling infection. The environment score includes, among other things, a measurement of cleanliness and hand hygiene. However, it is well established that infection rates are affected by other variables that PEAT does not measure.
The PEAT scores also reflect the findings on the day the assessment was performed.
The performance management of individual sites is a matter for primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, Monitor and the Care Quality Commission. These organisations regulate and manage the performance of local NHS healthcare providers and these organisations should determine what, if any, action should be taken.
The NPSA recommends PEAT assessment teams include a patient or patient representative. In addition teams are encouraged to seek the opinions of patients during their assessment. Some trusts across England actively involve their patient forum or LINKS representatives, something the NPSA recommends.
The questions are adapted annually to reflect current key priority areas of the NHS and requirements of patients and their carers/relatives. The three areas of environment, food and privacy and dignity have remained the same.
PEAT assesses all trusts with 10 or more inpatient beds. These include acute, mental health and primary care trusts. It does not assess ambulance trusts or strategic health authorities. This year 1,242 hospitals were assessed from 323 trusts. In addition 146 hospitals from the independent sector took part.
