PATIENTS and service users of the district’s mental health provisions have ranked them among the best performing NHS organisations in the country.

Figures released by PLACE – Patient-led Assessments of the Care Environment – show Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has received high scores from patients for the fourth year running.

And this year it has scored above average on all eight assessment areas at Airedale Centre for Mental Health, in the grounds of Airedale Hospital at Steeton, and Lynfield Mount Hospital in Bradford.

The scores were 98.30 per cent for cleanliness, 98.09 for food overall, 94.00 for organisation food, 99.11 for ward food, 98.77 for condition, appearance and maintenance, 84.02 for dementia and 90.46 for disability.

Andrew Morris, deputy director of estates and facilities at the care trust, said: “I’m very proud of our results, especially receiving above the national average in all PLACE assessment areas.

“Each year we keep improving and it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff. It can make a big difference in helping people feel better. We know there are always further improvements we can make and will consider the recommendations of the assessors to see how these can be best met.”

Ten assessors, made up of service users, relatives, carers and patient advocates, carried out assessments between March and May this year.

The annual assessment looks at cleanliness, the quality and availability of food and drink, how well the building meets the needs of the people who use it and how well the environment protects people’s privacy and dignity.

Quality of food served to patients at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health received top marks and high praise from assessors with a score of 100 per cent. Food quality at Lynfield Mount Hospital also scored highly with 98.81 per cent.

Richard Priestley, operations manager at the care trust, said: “The quality of meals we serve to both patients and staff is of the highest importance to us.

"We offer a variety of healthy menus, which are all nutritionally analysed. All food is sourced in a sustainable way and freshly cooked on site by a team of qualified chefs and served by our experienced housekeepers.”

For the first time, PLACE assessors looked at aspects of the environment for those with disabilities, such as space for wheelchairs, hearing loops and ramps.

Areas marked out for improvement included updating signage on toilet doors to become more dementia friendly, and re-freshening the outpatients department at Lynfield Mount Hospital, including re-decorating, new furniture and changing lighting in some areas of the wards to be brighter.