19 August 2016
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has today issued a report following a review of the care of older people in the Borders General Hospital, which took place over four days in April 2016.
NHS Borders welcomes the report.
The purpose of the review, which was undertaken at the request of NHS Borders Chief Executive Jane Davidson, was to assess the standards of care provided to older people in the Borders General Hospital.
“I took this step because as an organisation we are committed to providing good quality care, and as a direct result of the complaint reported on by the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman”, explains Jane.
“The observations of the Inspectors provide us with an independent, robust view of the quality of care we provide. They help us to understand where our improvement work should be focused so that we can do more and better for our patients”.
The report, which identifies eight areas of good practice, commends the person-centred, learning culture within NHS Borders and the enthusiasm for change and improvement.
The twelve areas for improvement identified by the Inspectors, and our plans to address these, are contained within the published Action Plan.
Commenting on the report, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Acute Services at NHS Borders, Evelyn Rodger, said; “This robust and rigorous review has illustrated the steps that have been taken to improve the care we provide to older people, based on learning from previous inspections, reports and patient feedback, particularly complaints.”
Medical Director Andrew Murray added; “Through our quality assurance reviews and safety meetings, both identified as areas of good practice in the report, our staff continue to work hard to address any issues with care as they arise, so that they can be rectified and followed up immediately.
“I would like to thank the staff for their ongoing commitment and care. All inspections are a snapshot of a point in time, and provide learning opportunities for us, and it is helpful that Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspectors work with us to be the best we can be.”
Chairman of NHS Borders, John Raine said; “This report is encouraging, constructive and helpfully identifies the areas in which there is scope for improvement.
“The recognition of our ongoing work around leadership and governance as an area of good practice, and the change to an increasingly person centred culture is endorsed by the positive feedback gathered by the Inspectors from patients, families and carers.
“To see highlighted in the report that ‘all patients we observed were being treated with compassion, dignity and respect’ and that there was ‘good communication and team working’, is evidence that our learning from complaints is being put into action.
“The report will be shared across our organisation and our focus on visible leadership, scrutiny and challenge to ensure that we are delivering the care that is right for our patients will remain.”
Further information about HIS, its inspection visits and methodology and audit tools used can be found at www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org