OKEHAMPTON's Community Hospital received top marks in a recent national survey, in which it was revealed Devon's hospitals are among the best in the country. The National Patient Safety Agency survey showed the quality of food, privacy and dignity afforded to patients at Devon Primary Care Trust hospitals are considered well above the mark. At Okehampton, they were graded as excellent in each category. At Tavistock Hospital, the food and privacy and dignity categories were marked as good, while the environment was considered acceptable. Philippa Bridle, the local NHS manager for Okehampton and Tavistock, said she was delighted with Okehampton Hospital's 'excellent' status across the board. 'It is a reflection on our commitment to ensuring everything is fine for the patients,' she said. Ms Bridle said she was pleased with Tavistock's 'good' scores on privacy and dignity and food, which reflected the hard work carried out by staff. 'We are confident of achieving a better environment score next year, as we are working to improve the building,' she said. The PEAT programme was established to assess NHS hospitals in 2000. Under the programme, every in- patient healthcare facility in England with more than ten beds is assessed annually and given a rating of excellent, good, acceptable, poor or unacceptable. PEAT inspection teams include patients, their representatives and NHs frontline staff. Dr Kevin Snee, chief executive of Devon Primary Care Trust, welcomed the findings. Dr Snee said: 'This survey shows us some compelling reasons why community hospitals are much loved in Devon. 'Patients are our hospitals can expect good quality food, a pleasant environment and good levels of privacy and dignity. 'Our staff work hard to get these right and I'd like to thank them publicly for their efforts.'