Shepton NHS Treatment Centre, the first hospital of its kind to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission across all five of its criteria, has achieved the highest score possible in the national Friends and Family Test every month for the past five months, and an average score of 99.7 per cent over the past year.

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.

Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre achieved the remarkable average score of 100 per cent of patients stating that they would recommend the hospital to their nearest and dearest, from November 2018 to March 2019 (the latest data available).

In March the hospital scored 100 per cent for day cases, outpatients, ophthalmology and in-patient ward. In all, 878 patients completed the Friends and Family survey during March.

The results follow the performance by Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre in the Patient Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) inspection.

Here, the hospital was joint top in the country for quality of care. It scored 100 per cent, making it one of only three hospitals run by an independent care provider in the country to achieve top marks.

In all, 1,199 NHS trusts and other care providers responded to the PLACE audit, with just 32 achieving 100 per cent.

Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre is the only care provider in the South West with a mark of 100 per cent for in its PLACE inspection.

Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre achieved 100 per cent for cleanliness, privacy, dignity and wellbeing, the standard of the facility, food, dementia provision and disability provision.

Chester Barnes, hospital director at Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have maintained our 100 per cent Friends and Family score over five months.

"This demonstrates that we are acting on our commitment to put our patients at the heart of everything we do, and they in turn are appreciating our efforts. Our thanks go to all our patients who took part in the survey and left such positive feedback."

More information is available by visiting www.sheptonmallettreatmentcentre.nhs.uk or call 01749 333600.