The results of the first ever patient-led assessments of the care environment (PLACE) have been published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The assessments involved teams of patients and independent evaluators visiting hospital wards and reviewing non-clinical services such as cleanliness, food, hydration, and the extent to which the provision of care with privacy and dignity is supported. The measurements for “Condition, Appearance and Maintenance” showed enormous variation between different hospitals from scores of 100% for some hospitals to well below 50% for others.

Future Standards Working Group Digest
We are pleased to distribute to members the Second Future Standards Working Group Digest outlining the current state of progress on the programme for the