Hospital’s record keeping criticised
Failings found in elderly care wards
Inspectors have identified a number of areas for improvement in wards caring for the elderly at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland this week published a report relating to a three-day inspection at the Larbert hospital in November as part of its programme on the standard of care for older people in acute care in Scotland.
Among areas found to be lacking was documentation, said to be an “essential part of a patient’s care”.
The inspectors said: “It is a legal requirement and ensures that patient care is safe.
“Throughout the inspection we identified areas of poor documentation. It is important to stress that poor documentation does not mean that the care is also poor.
“Initial assessments need to be completed accurately and within the standard recommended timescales.
“On completing the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) there is a lack of recording if weights are estimated or measured, resulting in inaccurate scoring of MUST.
“Correctly completed assessments are needed to ensure that correct patient care is given.
“The completion of person-centred care plans is variable. These should detail the interventions required to meet patients’ identified care needs but didn’t always.
“There are concerns around the completion of the assessment of capacity to consent and staff understanding of adults with incapacity (AWI).”
The inspectors visited the acute assessment unit, wards A11 (ageing and health), A22 (stroke), A32 (acute medical ageing and health), B11 (surgical), B12 (medical), B21/B22 (ageing and health integrated care), and B32 (medical/gastrointestinal) as well as the discharge lounge.
Claire Sweeney, interim director of quality assurance for HIS, said: “We found areas of good practice and areas to improve.
“Interactions between staff and patients were positive and the majority of patients praised the care they received.
“The integrated care ward offers a good therapeutic environment for patients with cognitive impairment. It should be commended for the work that continues to be implemented within what is a very busy ward.
“However, there are a number of areas where improvements must be made.
“NHS FV must improve documentation and ensure all older people being treated in accident and emergency or admitted to hospital are assessed within the national standard recommended timescales.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and follow up at future inspections.”
Throughout the inspection we identified areas of poor documentation