Healthcare Improvement Scotland has today (26/10) published a report on their unannounced inspection of a number of wards at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy from 31 July to 02 August 2023.
The unannounced inspection was part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Acute Hospital Safe Delivery of Care Inspection programme. The Victoria Hospital was assessed under new criteria brought in following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report highlighted a number areas of good practice, noting that staff felt supported and listened to by senior managers, safety briefings were well organised with good multidisciplinary team representation, and that healthcare staff were responsive to patients’ needs.
Inspectors also observed friendly and respectful interactions between patients and staff, and between colleagues, and noted that patients and visitors were complimentary about the care provided.
The report makes two recommendations and highlights a number of other areas where action is required. Work is underway to address these issues quickly, with some actions already having been completed.
Commenting on the report, NHS Fife Director of Nursing, Janette Keenan, said:
“The unannounced inspection of the Victoria Hospital was extensive, with the Healthcare Improvement Scotland team visiting 19 different wards and areas across three days.
“We are pleased that the report of the inspection recognises the efforts of our staff, who in particularly challenging circumstances continue to be responsive to the needs of those in our care.
“Furthermore, we are also pleased that patients and their loved ones were complimentary about the care they received.
“A number of improvement actions were also highlighted in the inspection report and work has already began to address and rectify these areas.”
The report is available in full on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website [LINK]
