Department of Health

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Healthcare environment

Good healthcare environments are key drivers of patient experience.  Good environments matter to patients, their visitors and carers and to staff.  This section contains policies and guidance on how to improve the patient environment and the basic care services delivered within that environment.

Clean hospitals

Patients expect hospitals to be clean, tidy and welcoming. The Clean Hospitals programme aims to improve and maintain standards of cleanliness across the NHS, giving control over cleanliness issues to front line staff and highlighting how cleanliness is everyone's responsibility.

Hospital food

Hospital food is an essential part of patient care. Good food can encourage patients to eat well, aiding their recovery from surgery or illness. Patients should receive food that is safe, of good quality, nutritious, well presented and served at a time convenient to them. The Better Hospital Food programme aims to ensure the consistent delivery of high quality food and food services to patients.

Ward housekeeping

Ward housekeepers are valuable members of the ward team. They ensure the ward is clean and welcoming and patients' food is tasty and enjoyable. They attend to patient's non-clinical needs, providing more time for nursing staff to do the job for which they were trained.

Patient environment networks

Patient environment networks now operate in each SHA. The networks are made up of staff with a stake in the delivery of basic care services to patients. They meet regularly to share learning and good practice, provide benchmarks, identify staff training needs and support the modernisation of basic care services at a local level.

Privacy and dignity

Privacy and dignity are matters of real significance to patients. This programme has been formed to ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect, in environments which meet their needs for personal privacy.

The healing environment

Good environments have a powerful effect on patients and staff. They can enhance clinical outcomes and patient recovery and improve staff working lives. Careful use of colour, light, texture and sound combine to create a healing environment.

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