NHS board to tackle safety concerns after damning inspection

INSPECTORS have raised concerns about patient care and the safety of elderly people admitted to a hospital.

An initial inspection into acute care for older people in Galloway Community Hospital last November raised concerns about safety and record-keeping.

A Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) report identified a “disconnect between senior management and ward staff” and stated documentation of care provided to patients was in some cases incomplete.

Concerns were also raised over the “lack of willingness of medical staff to ensure patients have the capacity to consent to treatment” and the issue referred to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.

After the initial inspection, HIS asked NHS Dumfries & Galloway to conduct an internal review and create an action plan.

An unannounced follow-up inspection was held on January 7 and 8, which HIS officers said “failed to identify significant improvement within the hospital”.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway said the report was “very disappointing” and apologised.

The board has been told it must make significant improvements in 26 areas.

Jacqui Macrae, head of quality of care at HIS, said: “During (a) revisit, despite an action plan being implemented by NHS Dumfries & Galloway, we failed to identify significant improvements.”

Jeff Ace, NHS Dumfries & Galloway’s chief executive, said: “Whilst it is reassuring that the inspectors witnessed compassionate and skilled interactions between staff and patients, it is clear that we have much work to do to improve the consistency of record-keeping, care planning and delivery of best-care practice to patients with degrees of confusion or dementia.”

Mr Ace said action would be taken immediately on 15 of the recommendations while the remaining issues would be dealt with before the end of March.