Media release

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Healthcare Improvement Scotland Inspection Report: Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside

Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Wednesday) published a report relating to an announced and unannounced follow-up inspection visit to Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, as part of its programme of inspections on the standard of care for older people in acute care in Scotland.  An announced inspection to Ninewells Hospital was carried out on Monday 24 September to Wednesday 26 September 2012. Due to concerns we had about the acute medical assessment unit, we carried out a further unannounced follow-up inspection on Monday 21 January 2013. The published report covers both inspections.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland was asked by the Scottish Government to carry out a programme of inspections to provide assurance that older people are being treated with compassion, dignity and respect while they are in an acute hospital.

Our inspections focus on the three national quality ambitions for NHSScotland, which ensure that the care provided to patients is person-centred, safe and effective. We also look at one or more of the following areas on each inspection:

• dementia and cognitive impairment
• falls prevention and management
• nutritional care and hydration, and
• preventing and managing pressure ulcers.

As part of the inspections, we also carried out patient interviews and used patient questionnaires.  The full inspection report and an improvement action plan developed by NHS Tayside to address the identified issues are available to view at www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/OPAH.aspx .

Speaking of the report, Susan Brimelow, Chief Inspector, said: “We observed areas where Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside is performing well when providing care to older people. For example, improvements have been made to the ward environment for people with dementia or a cognitive impairment. However, we also identified a number of areas for improvement. During our announced inspection, we had significant concerns about the care provided to vulnerable, older people in the acute medical assessment unit. In particular, we were concerned about patients’ privacy and dignity being compromised due to the mixed sex facility and the lack of space in the unit. Our unannounced follow-up inspection assured us that progress is being made to address the issues we identified and that actions are being taken to improve the care provided to patients in this unit. We expect NHS Tayside to address the areas for improvement we have identified as a matter of priority.”

Notes to Editors

Healthcare Improvement Scotland is a health body created by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 with the key responsibility to help NHSScotland and independent healthcare providers deliver high quality, evidence-based, safe, effective and person-centred care; and to scrutinise services to provide public assurance about the quality and safety of that care.

Key components of our organisation include the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI), the Scottish Health Council, the Scottish Health Technologies Group, and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).

The inspection team on 24-26 September 2012 was made up of three inspectors and two public partners, with support from a project officer.

The inspection team on 21 January 2013 was made up of two inspectors and one public partner, with support from a project officer.

On each inspection one inspector led the team and was responsible for guiding them and ensuring the team members were in agreement about the findings reached. A key part of the role of the public partner is to talk to patients and listen to what is important to them.

Each inspection is informed by national standards published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, our predecessor organisations and the Scottish Government. Other national guidance and best practice is also taken into consideration. The relevant national standards, guidance and best practice are listed in the full inspection report.

Further information about Healthcare Improvement Scotland, its inspection visits, methodology and audit tools can be found at http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/.

Improvement work relating to the care of older people is being led and coordinated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. This commenced in April 2012 and supports NHS boards address areas for improvement identified during inspections.

All media enquiries should be directed to:

Stephen Ferguson, 0141 225 6893 / 07779 329 689