The PEAT scheme was based on NHS Trusts conducting self-assessments, while the new PLACE process includes patients in the teams that visit hospitals and hold regular public meetings at each site inspected.
Andy Jones, chairman of the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) said: “In terms of patient food and drink services, these first overall results are encouraging with high levels of patient satisfaction with hospital food across NHS Trusts and other health care centres in England.
“However, whilst I believe that patient involvement is essential to providing a more accurate perspective of views on food, drink and general catering services and to identifying where improvements should be made, we must not allow ourselves to become distracted by overly focusing on scoring and league tables.
“It is key that our menus and beverage choice meet and are suitable for the patient groups we serve as well as being flexible in both their offering and adaptability.”
The PLACE inspections aim to provide a snapshot of how an organisation is performing against a range of non-clinical activities which impact on the patient experience of care such as cleanliness, maintenance of premises, delivery of privacy and dignity and the quality and availability of food and drink.
The assessment of food and hydration includes a range of questions relating to the organisational aspects of the catering service (e.g. choice, 24-hour availability, meal times, access to menus) as well as an assessment of the food service at ward level and the taste and temperature of the food.
A total of 1,358 assessments were undertaken across 274 organisations; none achieved a score lower than 60% while 76 were rated at 90% or higher for food and hydration services.