Clean bill of health for GBH

NHS SHETLAND has received a positive report from the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate following its unannounced inspection of the Gilbert Bain Hospital at the end of August.

The comprehensive assessment against the Healthcare Associated Infection Standards covered accident & emergency, the maternity unit, the renal unit and Ronas ward, as well as wards one and three.

Three years ago, the Gilbert Bain received a critical report when inspectors instructed the health board to improve in five areas and made seven further recommendations.

In their latest report, published on Monday, inspectors only required the health managers to improve in some aspects of communication between staff and management, and to improve the healthcare associated infection information provided for patients and visitors. 

A spokeswoman for NHS Shetland said the findings demonstrated that NHS Shetland was complying with the majority of standards to protect patients, staff and visitors from the risk of acquiring an infection. 

“In particular it showed that staff are aware of their individual responsibilities for infection prevention and control, that cleaning in the hospital is good and the environment is well maintained,” she said.

Chief executive Ralph Roberts said work was already under way to address the issues raised.

“I am pleased that we have received positive feedback from this inspection and that this provides independent confirmation of the infection control measures and good cleanliness and environment we have.

“This is to the credit of all our staff, patients and visitors for the actions they take to maintain the high standards we have at the Gilbert Bain Hospital.

“This also helps us to further improve our service and we will be responding quickly to the recommendations that have been made in this report.”

The inspection report can be read in full here.