Honiton hospital rated excellent in all three areas during an annual inspection.

COMMUNITY hospitals in Honiton, Axminster and Seaton have received top marks in an annual inspection.

They received some of the highest possible scores in the PEAT inspections, which check standards in NHS hospitals in England in the areas of environment, food, privacy and dignity.

Honiton hospital was rated Excellent in all three areas.

Axminster and Seaton hospital were rated excellent in terms Food and privacy and dignity and received good ratings for environment.

Honiton hospital matron Michaela Dicks said: “We had three ‘excellents’ this year after attaining three ‘excellent’ scores last year.

“The whole team approach here really helps, the catering dept, housekeepers, nurses, managers and estates team, they are all fantastic.

“I would like to personally praise the housekeeping and estates teams for a huge amount of hard graft and loyalty in getting such wonderful scores across the board.”

The PEAT assessments took place between January and March 2011 across all facilities run by the Northern Devon Healthcare Trust.

Kate Lyons, operations director for Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said “We are pleased that our community hospitals have scored so highly in the latest PEAT assessment.

“The issues of cleanliness, food and privacy are very important to patients and we do all we can to provide our patients with an excellent service and experience.”