STAFF at Halton General Hospital have been celebrating after they were rated among the best in the country for food, patient environment and privacy and dignity.

Both Halton and Warrington Hospital scored the top rating of excellent across the three categories during annual inspection Patient Environment Access Team (PEAT).

Mel Pickup, chief executive at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s the first time both hospitals have scored excellent across the board and it shows the quality of the services that we are providing.

“We put a lot of work and investment into continually improving our facilities for patients across both our hospitals and taking on board patient feedback on food and the environment.

”Particular credit needs to go to our catering, domestic and estates teams who are unsung heroes at the hospitals and make sure that the facilities are to the standard that our patients expect.”

PEAT scores all hospitals from excellent to unacceptable in each of the three categories.

Patient environment includes looking at ward accommodation, bathrooms and shower facilities for patients and signage.

Privacy and dignity focuses on aspects like confidentiality of information, assistance with personal care and appropriate patient clothing. The food score looks at choice and quality of food and is judged on a range of factors from menu choices to taste and presentation.

The 2012 scores have improved on last year’s ratings where Halton scored good for the patient environment and privacy and dignity and excellent for food.

Warrington scored good across all three areas in 2011.