NHS pleased with care report

NHS Shetland has received a generally positive report following an unannounced inspection into services for elderly people at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, in October.

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) found a number of strengths including:

• good communication between patients and staff;
• positive feedback from patients about the care they received whilst in hospital;
• effective leadership on the wards from the nurses in charge, creating a calm environment and well co-ordinated care;
• evidence that patients were well cared for whilst in hospital;
• mealtimes were protected and there was evidence that patients received appropriate support with their meals and given a good range of choices to suit their nutritional requirements;
• evidence that patients had appropriate care plans for nutritional care, pressure care, falls and cognitive impairment and documentation was generally well completed,
• evidence that good systems for team work are in place, including the multi-disciplinary meeting held every morning to plan care across the whole hospital.

Areas marked for improvement were ensuring consistency in completing record keeping, clinical assessments and discharge planning.

NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts said the report demonstrated that the local health board provides high quality older peoples care.

“I am pleased to note that all patients who talked to the Inspectors said their care in hospital was good,” he said.

“This is testimony to the efforts of staff who strive to provide high standards of care every day.

“We will continue to work on our existing improvement plans for older peoples care and incorporate the inspection findings into our plans.”

The full report as well as the improvement notice issued by HEI can be found here.

The focus of the inspection was on assessing the care provided in relation to national standards for nutrition, pressure care, cognitive impairment and managing falls.