Care at RAH slated
Published 4 May 2012 09:30
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A HEALTH watchdog has slated the care standards of elderly patients at the Royal Alexandria Hospital (RAH).
In a damning report, inspectors from Healthcare Improvement Scotland found an astonishing 12 areas for improvement after visiting the facility, which is used by thousands of patients from Dumbarton and the Vale.
The team of four said on occasions nursing staff used inappropriate language to describe elderly patients some of whom were suffering from dementia,
The report said: "While speaking to us, a member of nursing staff referred to patients using inappropriate language such as 'grabbers', 'criers' and 'feeders'. Several members of staff also referred to bed rails on adult beds as 'cot sides'."
Although NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff were praised for treating older people with compassion, dignity and respect in the majority of cases, there were further damning criticisms.
The report added: "One patient had been identified as being at high risk of falls and required the use of a walking aid. This was not detailed in the nursing care plan. We observed this patient wheeling an over-bed table for support while walking to the toilet within the bay area. A nurse walking by came to help the patient into the toilet and then left him in the toilet alone."
Inspectors visited the hospital on March 14 and 15 as part of a programme of investigation on care standards in Scotland.
The inspections, requested by Scottish Government, were designed to determine if older people were being treated with compassion, dignity and respect while in hospital. They also scrutinised other areas including the prevention of patient falls and bed sores, nutritional care and hydration and the use of mental health assessments when elderly people are first admitted to hospital.
Patients were interviewed and questionnaires distributed before the findings were published.
Susan Brimelow, chief inspector at HIS said: "From the patient records we reviewed, we found little evidence of mental health assessments being carried out and no individualised care planned for patients with confusion or challenging behaviour.
"NHS Greater Glasgow has developed an action plan to address the areas for improvement highlighted in our report."
The findings of the report was this week criticised by elderly groups.
Rory Farrelly, acute director of nursing at NHSGG, said: "Care, dignity and respect are fundamental principles of healthcare and we would like to make clear that the comments made to the inspection team by an isolated member of staff are completely unacceptable. We will be reiterating to all staff that the use of inappropriate language is not acceptable and staff should be mindful of their behaviour.
"The delivery of consistent high quality healthcare to older people across NHSGGC is a key priority."
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