Elderly hospital patients must receive dignified treatment
Alison Johnstone, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, today expressed concern after a report said that hospital inspectors were forced to intervene to help elderly patients.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland staff stepped in at Ferryfield House in Edinburgh as patients had been waiting up to 10 minutes for a response to their buzzers. The inspectors were reviewing care at the facility, along with Astley Ainslie Hospital, Ellen's Glen House and Findlay House.
Alison Johnstone, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said:
“This shocking report underlines the need to invest in staff and facilities that can cope with Scotland’s changing health and social care needs. We have an ageing population and increasingly complex health conditions, and to hear of hospital inspectors having to intervene due to poor staffing levels does not instil confidence in the future.
“I welcome the commitment from NHS Lothian to act on the findings and I would hope all health boards have plans in place to ensure elderly patients receive dignified treatment and attention during their stay in hospital.”