Inspectors' verdict on Shetland Hospital
8 Feb 2010 02:08 PM
The standard of cleanliness at Shetland's Gilbert Bain Hospital is generally good, according to an inspectors' report.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate's report, published today, commended NHS Shetland for the use of recorded hand hygiene messages in the lifts and the high numbers of staff involved in the cleanliness champions programme.
However the report also highlighted that the high dependency unit was 'visibly dusty' and called for a number of improvements.
These include:
- Ensuring there are sufficient clinical sinks and these are of an appropriate size
- Consistently completing patient equipment schedules, although all equipment inspected was clean
- Making staff aware of results of hand hygiene and cleanliness audits as well as infection surveillance
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Scottish hospitals are now being put under the microscope by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate as part of our bid to drive up standards.
"The inspectors highlighted a number of positives at the Gilbert Bain but also found areas where more could be done. NHS Shetland has put in place an action plan to address these and I expect them to make swift progress in implementing this.
"The inspectorate will monitor this though further planned and unannounced inspections."
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate operates independently of the Scottish Government and the NHS boards it inspects. It carries out both planned and unannounced inspections of hospitals. For administrative purposes, it is based within NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.
The inspection at Gilbert Bain Hospital took place on December 15, 2009.
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