PATIENTS at the Alex have given their food the thumbs up.

Catering staff at the hospital have shaken off the stereotypical image of bad grub by receiving an ''excellent'' grade for food in the annual Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) ratings.

The rating also applies to Worcestershire Royal and Kidderminster hospitals, placing them in the top third nationally.

The Royal and Kidderminster were also rated ''good'' for standards of cleanliness, although the Alex was only ''acceptable''.

A Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: "It is good to have such outstanding results. It is good news for our patients and shows we are providing excellent service for them.

"It also goes to show not every hospital dishes out rubbish for food, as seen in the media recently."

The results come as standards are improving across most of the NHS, according to Chief Nursing Officer Christine Beasley.

She said: "Food scores show more hospitals are providing an excellent or good service, delivering higher quality and better choice.

"But we know lots more work needs to be done. With the introduction of initiatives such as protected mealtimes and 24-hour catering, staff in the NHS will now play a key role in ensuring patients eat nutritional and balanced meals."

PEAT ratings are conducted by hospital trusts themselves - subject to random checks - by consulting patient forums, infection control staff and healthcare teams.