Hospitals watchdog to start unannounced inspections

Watchdog Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) is to start a programme of unannounced spot checks on hospitals in July.  The announcement follows a report this week by HIS raising concerns about standards of care for older people at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, including a lack of suitable toilet and bathing facilities.

HIS was given the power to inspect hospitals without warning when it was set up by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon last year, but until now hospitals have been given up to four weeks' notice that HIS inspectors were coming.
 
HIS Chief Inspector Susan Brimelow said: "I believe hospitals should be ready for inspection at any time. I would rather that hospitals focus on improvements for patients, rather than being prepared for inspections." 

HIS has no powers to impose sanctions or financial penalties on under-performing Health Boards, but instead aims to work with hospitals to tackle problems using a team of Health Improvement Advisers.

Age Scotland spokesperson Doug Anthoney said: "Healthcare Improvement Scotland's decision to make use of its powers to hold unannounced inspections is very welcome.

"A pattern seems to be emerging from HIS reports to-date of nursing staff in our hospitals who are by and large providing a good standard of care.  However there are also worrying gaps in record keeping, care procedures not always being followed, language sometimes spoken and written that is derogatory to older people, and of ward environments that fall short of what can reasonably be expected of a civilised society. 

"Unannounced inspections should help concentrate the minds of NHS managers on making sure care is of a high standard."