Health watchdogs in York have for the first time made public their findings from an inspection of NHS premises.

Copies of an inspection report from a visit to Peppermill Court, a unit for elderly people with mental health problems, have been sent to the local media by York and District Community Health Council (CHC).

The CHC announced earlier this year it was to step up visits to hospital wards and other health service buildings, and publicise its findings, in the wake of national and local concern about cleanliness issues.

The report on Peppermill Court, which is off York's Huntington Road, points out there is a difficulty in recruiting qualified staff, which the York Health Trust is seeking to address.

Other issues highlighted include staining on the carpet in the corridors and main lounge, which had been cleaned following the visit, and an unpleasant odour from the toilets.

But the report concludes that the level of care is very good, the food is of a high quality, and a variety of activities are available.

CHC chief officer Mike Harvey said members had been discussing making the reports public for some time, but the decision came out of the period of high public concern about NHS cleanliness.

"In terms of public confidence in the NHS, it was very important that we were not only doing the inspections but we were seen to be doing them as well, to reassure the public that there is a group that is taking this on board," he added.

The importance of publicising CHC activities was even greater since the Government brought forward proposals for NHS changes which would lead to the disappearance of the watchdog groups, and their replacement with other bodies.

Mr Harvey said he thought those changes would take place. But he was now more optimistic because concerns raised about independent advocacy for patients and having groups with an overall view of local health services seemed to have been addressed.

* The inspection report will be presented to the annual meeting of the CHC, at 7pm on Monday April 9 in the Novotel, Fishergate, York.

Updated: 08:47 Wednesday, April 04, 2001