Hospital inspections carried out by Pembrokeshire Community Health Council are helping to improve the patient environment in Pembrokeshire.
The CHC says it has seen a sea-change of improvements in the six years it has been carrying out annual Hospital Patient Environment Visits.
Chief officer of Pembrokeshire CHC Ashley Warlow said: "I would like to congratulate Hywel Dda NHS Trust for the significant improvements that have been made to the patient environment in hospital sites across Pembrokeshire. Year upon year we have seen a betterment of the patient environment to the extent that we are now commenting much more upon good practice and examples of excellences as opposed to identifying weaknesses.
"I know that this overall improvement is not just about funding being made available, but is equally to do with the dedication of the estates and hotel services staff, and their clinical colleagues, in accepting our recommendations and sharing our desire to make changes in order to better the patient experience.
"I am sure that were it not for our HPE surveys, and the commitment of our local healthcare staff, the hospital environment today may not be as good as it is."
The comments follow recent inspections at Withybush General Hospital and Tenby Hospital. Each year, the CHC undertake visits assessing external areas, entrances and receptions, common areas, wards and departments. A number of criteria are scored, from staff attitude to cleanliness and access.
The CHC's most recent visit scored many areas as 'excellent', including staff attitude and cleanliness across a number of wards and departments.
Decoration also scored highly in most areas and the CHC were pleased to note that improvements in other areas were being taken forward by a dedicated handyman, as part of an "extended cleaning pilot scheme" in place in three of the Wards at Withybush.
The report also praised the new undercover canopy at the entrance to Withybush General Hospital.
Director of nursing and quality Caroline Oakley said: "We work very closely with our local CHCs and value the important role they play in our health service. Inspections such as these compliment our internal inspections and audits and together enable us to monitor and maintain standards, correct mistakes and champion best practice. We will look closely at this inspection and develop an action plan to address recommendations from it."