Healthcare Improvement Scotland has today (12/06) published a report on their unannounced inspection of mental health wards at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline on 18 February 2025.
The unannounced inspection was part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Mental Health Services Safe Delivery of Care inspection programme.
The report highlighted a number of areas of good practice, noting that patients were observed receiving caring, compassionate and person-centred care and were shown dignity and respect by ward staff. The inspecting team also noted that staff communicated clearly and sensitively using a range of methods to overcome barriers to communication.
Inspectors also noted that they had observed a supportive culture, with senior charge nurses and lead nurses working together to support safe care. Despite the considerable pressures on the wards at the time of the inspection, it was noted that care plans were complete and up-to-date, and that individual patient risk assessments were comprehensive and regularly reviewed.
Patients also spoke positively about the standard of care they received. It was also noted that the hospital environment was both clean and uncluttered, and that majority of areas were well maintained.
In addition to the noted areas of good practice, the inspection team also identified other areas where action is required. These included the use of additional ‘surge’ beds, staff training compliance, increased staffing to support activities and improving the risk assessments and mitigations associated with ligatures.
Commenting on the report, Jillian Torrens, Head of Complex and Critical Care Services with the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The unannounced inspection of the mental health wards at Queen Margaret Hospital was very thorough, visiting wards 1, 2, and 4, and speaking with numerous patients and healthcare staff.
“We are pleased that the report recognises the caring, compassionate, and person-centred care provided by our staff, and highlights the dignity and respect patients were shown. We are also happy that inspectors observed an open and supportive culture amongst staff, which we work hard to foster and is a crucial in enabling us to provide good quality care.
“We also note the areas where inspectors have identified improvements are required. An extensive programme of refurbishments was already underway at the time of the inspection and has since helped considerably improve the hospital environment. As the report suggests, significant work has also been carried out across our mental service services to reduce the risks associated with ligatures, and this project remains ongoing.
“Additional work is still required to address some of the remaining improvements identified in the report and this will continue as a priority in the coming weeks and months.”
The inspection report is available in full on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website, at:
