Practice Plus Group Hospital Shepton Mallet, which was formerly known as the Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre, continues to be a hit with patients, as they have given it a score of 99.7 per cent across all departments in the national Friends and Family Test.

The 325 patients who completed the survey at the hospital throughout September gave a perfect score of 100 per cent to the day ward, endoscopy and outpatients.

Since March the hospital has supported local NHS patients and colleagues, taking on new specialties and procedures to ensure NHS patients receive the care they need and to relieve pressure on local NHS services.

The hospital continues to provide support in this way but it has also resumed elective (planned) surgery for NHS, self-pay and private medical insured patients.

All providers of health care are required to carry out the Friends and Family Test as part of the NHS' commitment to improving the patient experience.

Patients are asked to rate their care based on the likelihood that they would recommend it to their friends and family.

Practice Plus Group Hospital Shepton Mallet was the first hospital of its kind to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission across the five domains of the quality mark.

It has outperformed the national average in the annual Patient-Led Assessment of the Care Environment audit, and another national patient audit, the Patient Reported Outcome Measures, identified the hospital top in the country for hip replacements, and in the top five per cent for knee replacements.

Andrew Oakerbee, hospital director at Practice Plus Group Hospital Shepton Mallet, said: "We are very pleased to have achieved such a positive response in the latest Friends and Family Test, especially as we continue to offer support to the NHS during the ongoing pandemic.

"We are very grateful to our patients who complete the Friends and Family Test, and my thanks go to colleagues who have maintained the highest standards of care in an unprecedented healthcare environment."