Overview
The complainant (Mrs C) raised a number of concerns about the level of nursing care which her late husband (Mr C) received at Borders General Hospital (the Hospital) during two admissions in 2006 and 2007.
Specific complaint and conclusions
The complaint which has been investigated is that, during two admissions to the Hospital in 2006 and 2007, staff failed to ensure that Mr C received an adequate level of nursing care (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that Borders NHS Board (the Board):
- (i) conduct an audit of the cleaning regime which is in use throughout the Hospital and advise her of the outcome;
- (ii) provide evidence of the systems in place to monitor and audit the nursing notes (which would include patient assessment and the care plan);
- (iii) remind staff of the importance to record incidents of injury to patients in the nursing records, in addition to completing incident reports;
- (iv) provide evidence that there are measures in place to monitor compliance with the Administration of Medicines Policy; and
- (v) share this report with the Senior Charge Nurse on the ward and consider, in light of the issues which have been raised, whether additional education and development is required.
The Board have accepted the recommendations and will act on them accordingly.