Improvements needed at hospital after inspection

Inspectors from a new programme to assess care for older people in hospital have carried out their first inspection and found that despite many strengths being identified, the Western Infirmary in Glasgow needed improvement in 13 areas.
Every general hospital providing care for older people in Scotland will be inspected under the programme which was announced last June.
When Healthcare Improvement Scotland officials visited the Western Infirmary they focussed their attention on nutrition, hydration and care for patients with dementia or cognitive impairment. The inspectors' report highlighted many strengths but said that patients who needed help at meal times were not being offered appropriate utensils to help them eat and drink.
Among other issues, inspectors also reported that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde does not have a tracking system for patients with dementia who are moved to other areas of the hospital.
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "This new inspection programme will help to provide the level of scrutiny and assurance of hospitals in Scotland that the public expects and is entitled to.
"The majority of the findings in the report are positive and the inspection team noted many areas of good practice. However, I recognise that there are areas which need improvement and the NHS board is acting on these through its clear commitment to improving the quality of care for older people, alongside the implementation of the national Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland."
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is drawing up an action plan to tackle the areas it needs to improve.
Rory Farrelly, the health board's acute director of nursing, said: "We are pleased that the inspection team highlighted a number of areas where we are performing well in relation to the care provided to older people at the Western Infirmary. Specifically we note the high degree of positive interactions between staff and patients that were reported by the inspectors.
"We also welcome the very positive observations by the inspectors in relation to our staff treating older patients with compassion, dignity and respect. Care, dignity and respect are fundamental principles of healthcare and I am reassured by this feedback."
He added: "We do however fully accept that there are a number of areas where we need to improve and an action plan will now be developed to implement the areas for improvement highlighted by the inspectors."
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