This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Report into standards in patient care
27/05/2003
A report by
Quality
Improvement Scotland reviewing the quality of patient
care in the NHS is published today.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm congratulated NHS
Boards on making progress in meeting the generic clinical
standards, but urged them to step up the pace of change to
fully meet the rigorous standards set by QIS.
Mr Chisholm was speaking following publication of QIS'
second report of its review on the performance of the NHS
against Generic Clinical Standards.
The report looked at the performance of NHS Boards in a
number of areas, including the quality of clinical care,
the provision of information to patients and the
involvement of patients in decision making.
It found that progress has been made since last year in
involving patients in decisions made about their care, and
organising the effective discharge of patients from
hospital.
The report concludes that most NHS Boards had
appropriate strategies in place but now needed to work
harder to ensure they are put into practice so that they
achieve top marks in future.
Mr Chisholm said:
"This report shows why we created the QIS, as an
independent organisation to highlight good practice in the
NHS, and show where it can do better. This report shows
that it is fulfilling its role and helping to effect real
change, and real improvements to patient care.
"I now look to the NHS to take forward its
recommendations over the coming months, so that we see
further evidence of improvement in next year's report.
"It is encouraging to see that our commitment to putting
patients at the heart of the NHS in Scotland is bearing
fruit, with improvements made across many areas.
"Most Trusts are now actively working to involve
patients in their healthcare, one of the key priorities
outlined in Scotland's health white paper, 'Partnership for
Care'. In future I want to see even more evidence that this
is actually happening in practice, through positive patient
feedback and effective monitoring.
"I am pleased that most Trusts have an educational or
training strategy in place for their staff, and that much
work has been done to improve access to services, in
particular for patients with special requirements, such as
providing interpreting services, hearing loop equipment and
multi-lingual phrase books and cards.
"I welcome the report and the way it highlights areas
where NHS Boards must still improve. For example, I want to
see more work done to seek input and feedback from
patients, as a key part of developing services.
"The Health White paper outlines initiatives that we
will bring forward to help the NHS involve patients more.
Our patient information initiative will be designed to
provide a quality assurance process for patient
information, to widen the range of information available
and improve access to it.
"Improving the safety and efficiency of the NHS is vital
to a modern health service. That is why when things go
wrong, as they can, patients want their concerns listened
to and resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible. So
we are developing a new complaints process for NHS Scotland
- designed to strengthen and speed up our response to
patient's concerns.
"I am also concerned that staff should always be fully
aware of strategies in place to improve patient care. I
want to see effective communication all levels in the NHS,
so that all staff can play a part in driving forward
change.
"The QIS report shows that where there is improved
communication and effective joint working, such as in the
area of delayed discharge, patients are already
experiencing improvements.
"This is the kind of proactive approach I want to see
replicated across Scotland, NHS staff at every level,
whether Board manager or practice nurse, working together
to foster a culture of continuous improvement in the
NHS."
Healthcare professionals visited Health Boards
throughout Scotland, as well as the State Hospital for
Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Individual
reports on each area are also published today.
NHS QIS was established on January 1, 2003, as a Special
Health Board and it built on the expertise within the
following organisations:
- Clinical Standards Board for Scotland
- Clinical Resource and Audit Group
- Health Technology Board for Scotland
- Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development
Unit
- Scottish Health Advisory Service
NHS QIS was established to improve the quality of
healthcare in Scotland. To do this, it sets standards and
monitors performance and provides NHSScotland with advice,
guidance and support on effective clinical practice and
service improvements.
NHS QIS is independent from government. It is
accountable to the Executive for delivering its work
programme and for the public money it spends but it reaches
its own conclusions on the quality of services being
provided by the NHS and publishes its own findings.