Grahame urges NHS Borders to address concerns about care for older people within BGH

Graham Ford • Published 31 Aug 2012 13:14

LOCAL MSP Christine Graham says NHS Borders must urgently address a lengthy list of concerns identified by an inspection team from Healthcare Improvement Scotland during a recent visit to Borders General Hospital.

Ms Grahame, who represents Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale, has expressed concern at the report's findings which she described as a mixture of the positive and the disappointing.

According to the report inspectors found staff at the hospital were discussing patients' needs in ward corridors and displaying sensitive and personal information inappropriately.

Commenting on the report Ms Grahame said: "It must be a cause for concern that no fewer than 13 areas of concern have been identified and which need to be addressed so that the BGH can meet official NHS standards. I sincerely hope, and would expect that senior health officials in the Borders will afford the recommendations contained in this document top priority."

Ms Grahame was surprised to learn that inspectors had claimed there had been occasions when the needs of patients "were not put first". The inspection also found that patients were being moved a number of times during their stay in hospital, sometimes late at night.

A number of other conclusions by the inspectors were disappointing and unacceptable, according to Ms Grahame.

She added: "To learn that the dignity of some patients was not being maintained during visits to the toilet is another cause for concern. I do accept that there are four areas of strength outlined in the document, not least the standard of the meals. But inevitably it is the negatives which make the headlines and there appears to be a need for radical changes to a number of procedures within the hospital."

Tweet

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @peeblesnews