Inspectors forced to intervene to help elderly patients during ward review
It happened at NHS Lothian's Ferryfield House
Hospital inspectors were forced to intervene to help elderly patients after their calls for assistance were not answered quickly enough.
On two occasions, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) staff stepped in to help at NHS Lothian's Ferryfield House when patients had waited five to 10 minutes for a response to their buzzers.
The inspectors were carrying out a review of the care at the facility and three others in the health board area - Astley Ainslie Hospital, Ellen's Glen House and Findlay House.
The review followed a complaint by the family of Bill Oliver, 82, who died at Ellen's Glen House community hospital in Edinburgh in 2013.
Inspectors who visited the facilities unannounced in February said three of the wards for frail elderly patients were noisy with buzzers ringing frequently and for lengthy periods''.
Their report added: This was due to delays in ward staff responding.''
No ringing was heard at Astley Ainslie Hospital as staff were pro-actively anticipating patient needs and being visible around the ward area''.
But the report added: Across the other facilities, we saw a lack of staff presence in the ward areas and we saw instances where some patients waited over five minutes until their buzzer was answered.
For example, in the frail elderly ward in Ferryfield House, we intervened on two separate occasions to assist patients who were calling for assistance and had waited five-10 minutes.''
Inspectors concluded that while NHS Lothian had invested more than £1 million in nursing staffing, pressures remained due to the use of temporary staff, sickness absence rates as high as 23% at one hospital and difficulties in recruiting. They also identified weaknesses in record keeping.
HIS noted positive feedback from patients and families, as well as highlighting good staff relationships and a positive culture of openness and willingness to learn from mistakes''.
The body has made six recommendations for improvement, including the need for ongoing risk assessments to ensure staffing levels meet the needs of patients.
Professor Alex McMahon, director of nursing at NHS Lothian, said the review highlighted many areas of good practice.
He added: However, we do recognise that there are areas where we need to improve. A robust action plan was developed and many of these points have already been addressed as a matter of urgency.
Over the last year, NHS Lothian has invested £1.3 million in the service to maintain the correct balance of levels and skill mix of staff and ensure they are appropriate to the needs of patients.
Record keeping has also been targeted and the importance of clinical management standards has also been reinforced with staff.''