‘Positive findings’ in review of older people services

A Care Inspectorate review of services for older people in the Western Isles indicated ‘an impressive amount of improvement’ has been delivered since the inspection team last visited in 2015.

The report, carried out in May, highlights the benefits of a modernised home care service, the introduction of a more co-ordinated approach to managing discharge from hospital and more robust community engagement.

The original joint inspection, in June 2015, had identified some strengths in the delivery of services for older people in the Western Isles but had also identified a number of weaknesses and 12 recommendations for improvement were made.

Following the inspection, the Integration Joint Board drew up a detailed action plan to deliver the required improvements and has subsequently monitored its implementation.

The re-inspection report said: ‘From our meetings with staff and managers at all levels, partner organisations and community representatives, we witnessed a much stronger sense of integration and a determination to work collaboratively.’

Councillor Kenny John Macleod, chairman of the Integration Joint Board, said: ‘We are obviously very pleased to see the improvements delivered by staff. There has been concerted action at all levels to better support older people in the Western Isles and it is good this has been recognised by the inspection team.

‘We know, of course, that we have more to do. We still face major challenges in relation to the recruitment of staff and we are still working through big programmes of reform.’