A report published on Wednesday 30th November by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) campus highlights a number of positive findings about the culture of the hospital, its infection control procedures, the skills of its staff and its leadership.
The report follows a series of unannounced inspections in June this year, and NHSGGC welcomes such positive outcomes. We would like to thank our staff for their continuing hard work, and for all that they did to facilitate the work of the inspection teams.
The report highlights a number of areas of good practice including:
- An open, transparent and supportive culture in relation to infection prevention and control.
- Good communication with patients and their representatives on infection prevention and control.
- Good knowledge of roles and responsibilities among senior managers and leaders.
- Good infection prevention and control leadership within the hospital campus
- A vigilant approach towards infections related to Aspergillus.
- A clear process to identify infection prevention and control alert triggers, and a clear process to act and minimise risks.
- Good staff compliance with infection control and transmission-based precautions.
- Good cleanliness and condition of the hospital environment.
In addition, the report notes that, despite the pressures on services and staffing levels that are facing all hospitals in the country, staff within clinical areas said they felt supported by senior leadership.
The report was commissioned by the Scottish Government to provide independent assurance of infection prevention and control measures at the QEUH campus, including prevention and control of Aspergillus.
Professor Angela Wallace, Executive Nurse Director at NHSGGC, said: “I would like to thank HIS for their work earlier this year. Given the thoroughness of their investigations, it is particularly pleasing that the report gave such positive feedback for our culture, staff, leadership and infection prevention and control procedures.
“I would particularly like to thank our infection prevention and control team for their continuing vigilance, and for their work to support all staff to keep our patients safe.”
An action plan has been agreed between NHSGGC and HIS to ensure ongoing development of its staff and assurance of its policies and procedures.
Read the full HIS report here.
