PLACE

Patient Led Assessment of the Care Environment (PLACE)

The PLACE (Patient–Led Assessment of the Care Environment) assessment was introduced in April 2013 and is a government initiative to ensure that the assessment process is impartial and is based on patients' perceptive and experiences.

The PLACE assessment program offers a non–technical view of the building and non–clinical services provided across all hospitals providing NHS-funded care.

The National PLACE assessment results are a Trust indicator and are shared with the Care Quality Commission, which uses the information in discharging its responsibilities for monitoring and reporting on Trust performance.

The PLACE (Patient Led – Assessment of the Care Environment) was introduced in April 2013, PLACE is a government initiative to ensure that the assessment process is impartial and is based on patients perceptive and experience. This assessment has replaced the former PEAT assessment process. The National PLACE Assessment criteria was reviewed in 2019 to ensure the criteria for assessment remains fit for purpose and relevant.

The PLACE assessment programmes offer a non- technical view of the building and non – clinical services provided across all hospital providing NHS funded care.

PLACE aims to promote the principles established by the NHS Constitution that focus on areas that matters to patients, families and carers:

• Putting patients first
• Active feedback from public, patients and staff
• Adhering to the basis of quality care
• Ensuring services are provided in a clean and safe environment that is fit for purpose.

PLACE assesses a number of non- clinical aspects of the Healthcare premises identified as important to by the patients and public, known as Domains:

• Cleanliness
• Food and Hydration
• Privacy, dignity, and wellbeing
• Condition, appearance, and maintenance
• Dementia: how well the needs of patients with Dementia are met
• Disability: how well the needs of patients with a disability are met

The National PLACE Assessment results are a Trust Indicator and are shared with the Care Quality Commission, who uses the information in discharging their responsibilities for monitoring and reporting of Trust Performance

National PLACE Assessment 2023 Results Publication

The national PLACE Results were released on 22 February 2024 at 9:30 am.

(National PLACE Assessment 2023 - Timescale 4 September 2023 – 15 December 2023)

All the PLACE Assessments for five ELHT sites have been undertaken and completed as set out by NHS Digital within the agreed timescale and process.
The Delivery Programme of PLACE Assessment for ELHT 5 Hospital sites were as follows.

ELHT National PLACE Assessment results 2023 – Organisational Results

ELHT National PLACE Assessment 2023 – Delivery Timeline

(Nine assessment days across our five sites)

Patient Assessors for ELHT - Patient Assessors (Involvement)

Patients’ associations, Groups and representatives that supported the National Assessment

• Healthwatch Blackburn With Darwen
• HealthWatch Lancashire and south Cumbria
• ELHT Governors
• RNIB Representatives
• Patient Representatives
• Patients’ participation planning Group
• ELHT public volunteers
• Critical Care Friends
• Local Colleges Health and Social care Students
• Local Blackburn School – Young person’s involvement (Students)

National PLACE Assessments 2023 (4 September 2023 – 15 December 2023)

Breakdown of ELHT National PLACE Assessment Documentation submitted: 2023 (Comparable data reference to 2022)

PLACE Assessors 2023 (support/engagement)

Number of assessors that actively took part in the ELHT National PLACE Assessment process in 2023:

• Patient Assessors                62
• Staff Assessors                    59

Patient Assessor Summary Document – 4 Key Questions for response:

1. Do you feel that sufficient time was allowed to undertake a thorough assessment? All 62 patient assessors answered Yes.
2. Do you feel staff took notice of your views and comments? All 62 patient assessors answered Yes.
3. Were at any time you put under pressure to agree with something that you did not agree with? All 62 patient assessors answered No.
4. Did you feel sufficiently prepared to undertake the assessment? All 62 patient assessors answered Yes.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust would like to thank all patient and staff assessors that invested time to support the delivery of the National PLACE Assessment 2023. 

Refer to the link below for further details:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/patient-led-assessments-of-the-care-environment-place

Useful Links

Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE), England - 2013, Experimental statistics (http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB11575)