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Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the traffic light league tables for hospital cleanliness; what plans he has to change the system; and if he will make a statement. [126358]
Mr. Hutton
The patient environment action team programme, and the resulting 'traffic light' ratings awarded to hospitals, have been significant factors in improving the environmental conditions, including standards of cleanliness, in hospitals.Since the introduction of the system the number of 'Green' hospitals has increased from 22.3 per cent. to 60 per cent. (2000–02) while the number being assessed as 'Red' has fallen from 35.5 per cent. to zero over the same period.There are no plans to change the system.