Bradford and Airedale hospital trusts have been given below average scores in a new patient-led inspection programme.

A new England-wide scheme called Place gives patients the chance to score health facilities on four factors – cleanliness, dignity, food quality and maintenance levels.

Teams of assessors, made up of patients, carers, relatives and volunteers, have been carrying out inspections of facilities, marking them on a score sheet. The results of the first round of testing were released yesterday, and both Bradford Teaching Hospitals, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s, and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Airedale Hospital, scored below the national average on all four measures.

In contrast, Bradford District Care Trust, which manages mental health facilities at Lynfield Mount Hospital, Daisy Hill House, the Airedale Centre for Mental Health and Ward 24 at Airedale Hospital, scored above average in every measure.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals scored 77 per cent for the quality of its food, 91 per cent for cleanliness, 84 per cent for dignity and 88 per cent for maintenance.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust scored 83 per cent for food, 81 per cent for dignity, 83 per cent for maintenance and 93 per cent for cleanliness.

And Bradford District Care Trust scored 96 per cent for food, 95 per cent for dignity, 92 per cent for maintenance and almost 100 per cent for cleanliness – all above average.

Andrew Morris, Bradford District Care Trust’s deputy director of estates and facilities, said: “Having a clean, pleasant environment can make a huge difference in helping someone to feel better. We are determined to continue to improve our standards still further for the improved health outcomes of patients.”

Many of the assessors were recruited through Healthwatch Bradford and District, which represents patients.

Andrew Jones, of Healthwatch, said: “It’s important people are able to give their views on local care environments like hospitals and day treatment centres, so that the care trust can take action to improve things.”