Inspectors praise Dr Gray’s Hospital staff for ‘providing compassionate and responsive care’
Published: 01/02/2024 10:50The most senior doctor at Dr Gray’s Hospital has congratulated staff for their outstanding efforts after patients praised the care they receive at Moray’s flagship hospital in a report by Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) published today.
The report follows a visit by HIS to the Elgin hospital between 9-11 October last year in which independent inspectors recognised ward staff for ‘providing compassionate and responsive care’, noting patients were ‘complimentary about the care provided’.
Professor Duff Bruce, Hospital Clinical Director, said: "I am extremely proud that HIS inspectors observed our diligent staff delivering 'positive and caring' interactions with patients while 'working hard to support the safe delivery of care'.
"We strive to ensure patients feel comfortable during their stay with us, so the report’s acknowledgment that all areas inspected were ‘calm and well organised’ will be a boost for staff whose hard work has been highlighted.”
The record number of people in hospital and persistent pressure on available beds is a challenge across the country and the HIS report reflects that Dr Gray’s is no exception. To help meet demand, the HIS inspectors observed that ‘additional beds were in use throughout the hospital’.
Clear signage and ‘readily available’ personal protective equipment is also highlighted in areas where transmission-based precautions are a key safety measure.
Prof Bruce also welcomed feedback from HIS on areas where improvements can be made, stating: "While we’re delighted with the positive report findings for Dr Gray’s, we understand there are areas for improvement.
“We completely accept that we don’t always get it right, and on the occasions where care wasn’t at the high standard our patients expect, I’d like to apologise and offer people my assurance that we have a comprehensive action plan in place to ensure that we learn from and avoid these types of issues in the future.
While we always prioritise individual patient care, we recognise the importance of appropriate administration and record keeping and are already implementing new measures to build on our existing policies.
"The new, dedicated clinical skills centre at the hospital, development of which is firmly underway, will play a pivotal role in future skills development. It will support staff in refining existing techniques and cultivate new skills across the hospital.”
He continued: "The pressure on Dr Gray’s Emergency Department is unprecedented. An astonishing 4,973 extra patients were seen in 2023, with a record 29,580 people requiring our urgent help and expertise.
“In spite of these demands our staff continue to do a remarkable job and to perform better than the Scottish average. That’s a testament to their hard work but it doesn’t mean we will be complacent.”
Mr Alasdair Pattinson, Hospital General Manager, said: “Our goal is to make Dr Gray's one of the best local hospitals in the country. We are grateful to HIS for their feedback and will use this as a springboard to further improve services.
“It’s our staff that make this place such a special hospital and we want Dr Gray’s to continue to be a positive and enjoyable place to work. We are determined to get the teams the support they need and our recently launched, national recruitment campaign, which focuses specifically on Dr Gray’s, should help do just that. I’m pleased that it’s created such a buzz about the place and it should help us to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.”
The report is available to view at: Dr Gray’s Hospital - safe delivery of care inspection report: February 2024 (healthcareimprovementscotland.org)