Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Independent Healthcare Inspection Report: 
Highland Hospice, Inverness

Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Monday) published its report relating to an unannounced inspection visit to Highland Hospice, Inverness. The inspection visit took place on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 May 2014.

Highland Hospice is registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland as an independent hospital providing hospice care. Highland Hospice is a charitable organisation which provides specialist palliative care to people over the age of 18 years.

People can use the hospice in a number of ways. They can:

• attend the Netley day therapy centre for group activities or specific appointments. This service is available 2 days a week.
• attend the day hospice service which is available three days a week.
• attend one of the outreach services in Fort William, Thurso or Portree - these take place every 2 weeks.
• be admitted to the hospice inpatient unit.

All of the services offered by the hospice work together to meet the palliative care needs of people with a progressive, life-limiting illness. The hospice is situated near the city centre of Inverness.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland was established in April 2011. Part of our role is to undertake inspections of independent healthcare services across Scotland. Our inspectors check that independent healthcare services are complying with necessary standards and regulations. They do this by carrying out assessments and inspections. These inspections may be announced or unannounced.

Based on the findings of this inspection, this service has been awarded the following grades:
Quality Theme 0 – Quality of information: 6 – Excellent
Quality Theme 1 – Quality of care and support: 5 – Very good
Quality Theme 2 – Quality of environment: 4 - Good
Quality Theme 3 – Quality of staffing: 5 – Very good
Quality Theme 4 – Quality of management and leadership: 5 – Very good

The full inspection report and an improvement action plan developed by Highland Hospice to address the identified issues is available to view at: http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/home.aspx

Speaking of the report, Susan Brimelow, Chief Inspector, said: “Our inspection has highlighted a number of areas where Highland Hospice is performing well. We found a dedicated and caring team of staff providing a very high standard of care, treatment and support to patients and relatives. Staff spoke of a supportive learning environment and we found good quality assurance systems in place. Patients and relatives highly praised the quality of meals and were very complimentary about staff. However, the hospice must improve record keeping and recruitment practices. This inspection resulted in two requirements and six recommendations which Highland Hospice must address as a matter of priority.”