Teignbridge Primary Care Trust held a special meeting last week to accept the new Standards for Better Health. The aim of these new standards is to put patients and service users first by providing more personalised care; to focus on the whole of health and wellbeing rather than concentrating only on treating existing illnesses; and to devolve decision making to local organisations, so there are more local priorities and fewer national targets. The Better Health declaration will be used along with other performance data to measure the performance of NHS Trusts. The new performance rating system, called the Annual Health Check, will replace the old 'star' system and the ratings will be published in October 2006. Teignbridge PCT also approved a new annual cleaning, maintenance and facilities work programme. This is a rolling programme of deep cleaning, routine maintenance and some upgrading of all community hospital areas. Hospitals will be paired for the intensive two-week period necessary for the work. The programme will start at Dawlish on July 3. Bed occupancy will be run down here, to allow cleaning and maintenance for two weeks. On July 17, Dawlish Hospital will reopen and receive patients from Teignmouth Hospital while it is similarly cleaned. Bovey Tracey Hospital will be paired with Ashburton Hospital, and cleaning will begin on July 24 and August 14 respectively. Newton Abbot's Tudor and Scratton wards will be paired and cleaned before March 2007. The new cleaning plan takes advantage of less busy periods, for example during the summer holidays. The deep cleaning programme will help Teignbridge PCT meet the government's agenda on cleanliness. The Infection Control team will advise on the cleaning. A spokesman said: 'A deep cleaning and maintenance programme adheres to government strategies to reduce hospital acquired infections.'
