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Independant Inspection At Scotland’s Aberdeen Hospital Show Urgent Action Needed Now

Source: Scottish Government
Posted on: 23rd November 2009

Urgent action must be taken at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to address shortcomings uncovered in an independent inspection.

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate’s second report, published today, focused on Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and highlighted a range of issues that must be addressed, many relating to cleanliness and infection control.

However, a subsequent unannounced follow-up inspection – carried out last week – has highlighted that progress is already being made in tackling the inspectorate’s concerns.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the report highlighted the need for a range of improvements at the ARI. She said that the report was evidence that the tough new inspection regime would deliver real benefits for patients.

She also instructed other health boards to immediately consider the report and ensure that lessons from it were being applied in their own hospitals.

Ms Sturgeon said:

“This report makes difficult reading. I am disappointed that so much room for improvement has been identified at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Some of what the inspectorate has found is simply unacceptable. However, the whole purpose of the inspectorate is to shine a light on areas of weakness and then ensure that improvements are made.

“It is very welcome news that a follow-up unannounced inspection found that urgent action is already being taken and many concerns have already been addressed. I now expect NHS Grampian to implement all the inspectorate’s recommendations urgently and in full.

“This report echoes an earlier report’s findings which found Scotland has robust systems to tackle hospital infections but these are not always consistently implemented.

“Health boards cannot just pay lip service to infection control policies – they must be fully implemented and rigorously enforced. Everyone, from senior managers down, must understand their role and ensure it is carried out.

“Today’s report focuses on Aberdeen Royal Infirmary but my message to other health boards is clear – they should not wait to be inspected themselves before considering if improvements are needed. I am instructing all health boards to immediately consider the ARI report and ensure that its lessons are being applied in their hospitals.

“I am in no doubt that the establishment of the new inspectorate is one of the most important steps the government has taken to drive up standards in hospitals and drive down rates of hospital infection.

“Today’s report shows that the new regime will be tough and uncompromising. That is as it should be. Its reports will not always make comfortable reading but the result will be higher standards in our hospitals and real benefits for patients.”

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate operates independently of the Scottish Government and the NHS Boards it inspects. For administrative purposes it is based within NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

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