HOSPITALS across East Lancashire have been praised for the standard of their food and cleanliness.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust saw its food rating rise to 81.94 per cent from last year’s 77.74 per cent in the patient-led assessment of the Care Environment (PLACE) report.

Trust bosses said the increase is due to commitments towards ELHT’s food and drinks strategy, which has improved the nutritional value of food served at hospital sites.

The PLACE rating also saw large increases for disability domain (87.15 per cent) and dementia friendly domain (84.95 per cent), both of which scored well above the national averages.

This is along with the overall assessments for cleanliness and condition, appearance and maintenance, which remain over 90 per cent.

Chief Executive, Kevin McGee, said: “The PLACE results are a great indicator as to how we are continuously striving to improve the environment that our patients receive care in. It is satisfying to see what matters to patients is at the centre of the improvements we make.

“As good as the results are, there is no room for complacency and we will carry on refining the care we provide.”