Top marks awarded to hospice
Best report possible for facility once faced with closure
A HOSPICE once threatened with closure has received the best possible report from care watchdogs.
St Margaret of Scotland Hospice in Clydebank was rated excellent in every category – care, staffing, management, environment and information to patients and families.
Inspectors from Healthcare Improvement Scotland made no recommendations after an unannounced inspection on September 3 and 4.
Staff were described as “highly dedicated and caring” and focused on providing care and comfort to all patients and relatives.
The report noted that the number of accidents or incidents was low and there were no complaints.
There were systems in place to gain feedback from patients and ways of continuing to improve this system were being explored.
St Margaret’s is nondenominational with an underpinning philosophy of “care for all in need”.
The hospice faced closure after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde considered withdrawing £1.2million from its budget – a proposal that was withdrawn in 2009.
It has a total of 60 beds – 30 for frail adults with complex needs and 30 palliative care beds.
Chief i nspector Susan Brimelow said: “Our inspection of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice found an exceptional standard of care, treatment and support being provided to patients and relatives, from a highly dedicated and caring team of staff.
“Patients praised the quality of care received and staff spoke with pride about their work.
“We also found robust systems in place to gain feedback from patients in order to constantly monitor and improve the quality of care provided.
“This was an excellent inspection which has resulted in no requirements or recommendations.”
Last year the hospice received the best ever report by a health watchdog after being given the maximum score of six out of six in every category examined.
Campaigners said then that funding of the hospice was still being considered by the Petitions Committee at the Scottish Parliament.