The partnership will see all Nuffield Health hospitals work towards AfPP accreditation.

The accreditation benchmarks theatre services against the AfPP Standards & Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice (2022), as well as national frameworks, including the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and the National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures.

Alison McCourt, chief quality officer at Nuffield Health, said: ‘This is an important milestone that reflects our ambition to deliver the best health and care services patients can get anywhere. By working with AfPP as a trusted partner, we will implement these standards consistently across all 35 of our hospitals.

‘This standardised approach will give patients confidence and assurance that they will receive the highest quality of care, no matter where they are treated within Nuffield Health. It also strengthens our teams by providing clear frameworks and support to continue delivering outstanding perioperative care every day.'

Two of Nuffield Health's hospitals have already achieved successful accreditation. Nuffield Health will now embed the AfPP framework across its remaining 33 hospitals, with a target of full roll out by the end of 2027.

The announcement follows Nuffield Health's recent achievement of ANTT (Aseptic Non Touch Technique) Gold status across 92 sites, including all hospitals and fitness and wellbeing centres offering primary care services.