A NATIONAL survey of hospitals released on Monday shows that inspectors rate Tavistock community hospital among the best in England.

A survey organised by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) rated the environment, catering, cleanliness and privacy and dignity afforded to patients at NHS Devon's community hospitals as well above the mark.

Tavistock hospital was rated 'excellent' across the board for environment, food and privacy and dignity, the best possible mark.

The patient environment action teams (PEAT) programme was established in 2000 to assess NHS hospitals.

Under the programme, every inpatient 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.

Sally Slade, NHS Devon's managing director for health and social care, said the results reflected the work done by clinical and support staff to ensure patients are cared for in a pleasant environment and are treated with dignity and respect.

She said: 'This year's results show that most patients find our community hospitals pleasant, so for that I'd like to thank our staff for their efforts.

'Over the past year we have upgraded the facilities at most of our community hospitals through annual deep cleans and planned maintenance, including extensive work on ensuring privacy and dignity for all patients.

'We have worked in partnership with our leagues of friends and comforts funds who have helped us to provide those little extra things that make our patient's stay that little bit more pleasurable.'

Nineteen of NHS Devon's 21 community hospitals received at least one excellent rating in environment, food or privacy and dignity.

No hospital in Devon received a poor rating in any of the categories.