HEI report demands hospital improvements

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate report followed an unannounced inspection of the hospital in February.

Inspectors found the hospital’s standards of cleaning were “poor” and reported finding stained mattresses, dirty commodes and dust around patients’ beds.

They also found dirty linen being stored in patients’ bathrooms and corridors before being disposed of.

Water from a leaking roof in the building’s physiotherapy gym was being collected with the hospital’s sharps bins and absorbent pads, the report said.

The report said the leak could endanger patients and staff, and the “ageing” hospital, and should be fixed as soon as possible.

The hospital is due to transfer to the Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert, in July this year.

Following the transfer, the hospital site will then be developed into a community hospital with around 100 in-patient beds, X-ray services, child health services and a minor injuries unit.

But the latest report said cleaning standards were “poor” in six of the eight areas inspected and did not meet the NHS Scotland National Cleaning Services Specification, the inspectorate found.

Staff had been given out-of-date policy manuals, including guidance on the management of MRSA and hand hygiene.

The inspectors also saw staff not complying with the NHS national dress code, with staff observed wearing a stoned ring, a wristwatch and long sleeves.

Some of the problems were noticed at an earlier inspection in September 2009.

But the report also found the hospital had a “good approach” to antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship, and effective systems in place for managing patients.

The HEI was established in April 2009 to undertake at least one announced and one unannounced inspection to each acute hospital in NHS Scotland every three years.

Chief inspector Susan Brimelow said: “Our inspection team found the risk assessment and placement of patients within each of the wards visited was well-managed, with systems in place to aid effective decision-making and Forth Valley’s approach to antimicrobial prescribing was also good.

“This is our second inspection of Stirling Royal Infirmary and we found a number of areas where significant improvements need to be made, some of which were included in the report of the last inspection and have not been effectively resolved.

“The standard of cleaning in the majority of areas was poor and not all staff are adhering to the national dress code policy.

“Forth Valley must address the requirements we have made in our report and we will be following up with them to ensure they do so.”