Call for test inspections at hospitals to be secret

THERE have been calls for random inspections of hospitals after it emerged Lothian health chiefs spent £1.5 million sprucing up facilities before Scottish Government teams visited.

The cash was poured into the repairs and maintenance at the Western General and St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

Sources today said significant sums were invested at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by PFI contractors Consort.

As a result, all three received favourable reports from the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate. But NHS Lothian has been criticised for channelling so much money into a project which was supposed to give assessors a true reflection of life on hospital wards.

The health board said the work was vital as part of the general upkeep of hospital sites.

A financial report revealed that £1.5m was spent preparing the Western and St John’s, including extensive cleaning, repairs, fitting new floors and cracking down on infections.

It is understood similar work went on at the ERI, though Consort said only £24,500 extra was put in alongside its ongoing maintenance investment.

The Conservatives’ health spokeswoman in Scotland Mary Scanlon said: “Instead of following the smell of disinfectant and clean, white paint, the HEI should instead have random, totally unannounced visits at any time of the day or night.

“That would encourage greater hygiene and maintenance levels, rather than one big splurge in preparation for a single visit.”

Although on the face of it the three hospitals received praise from the inspectors, the initial test at the ERI was significantly undermined.

The Evening News revealed how hospital chiefs knew in advance which areas were to be inspected, and were therefore able to “blitz” specific zones.

This prompted criticism from politicians, and led to health secretary Nicola Sturgeon ordering a follow-up unannounced inspection. NHS Lothian later blamed the prior knowledge on an administration error at HEI’s end.

The health board’s chief operating officer for acute services, Jackie Sansbury, said: “As part of an ongoing five-year programme, we are investing money in making improvements to the patient environment at all of our hospital sites.

“Improvements include fitting vinyl floors instead of carpets and installing easily accessible, durable work surfaces in treatment areas to help eliminate the spread of infection.

“As part of this rolling programme, work was carried out at the Western General and St John’s Hospital prior to the HEI inspections taking place.

“It is important to note that the inspection teams singled out areas of praise and good practice in both hospitals.”

A spokeswoman for Consort said: “We have a continuing programme of maintenance at the hospital.”

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