No NHS trust in Scotland received top marks

A Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) report did not give a single NHS trust in Scotland top marks for any of the standards assessed.

QIS was set up at the start of the year to monitor standards in the health service.

Its study found that while improvements were being made, not enough was being done to provide the best patient care.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm welcomed the progress made by trusts, but said they could do better.

'Potential risks'

The QIS report found that NHS bodies were guilty of "responding to problems rather than anticipating and potentially avoiding them".

The 102-page document also revealed that communication with patients "remains an issue that gives rise to concern".

Elsewhere, the report said that many NHS organisations in Scotland "do not manage effectively potential risks to patients".

The Very Rev Graham Forbes, chairman of the group which produced the report, said progress was being made in many areas - but stressed that more needed to be done.

"No NHS trust was able to achieve the top assessment category for any of the standards assessed in the report," he said.

I think (the standards) are achievable and part of our task is to help trusts move towards that by reporting what we find and identifying areas of concern. Rev Graham Forbes

Rev Forbes added: "In all sincerity one commends and congratulates trusts on progress made to date.

"Nevertheless, the important challenge is to build on what has already been done.

"I think (the standards) are achievable and part of our task is to help trusts move towards that by reporting what we find and identifying areas of concern."

As well as all of Scotland's NHS trusts, the QIS team also visited the Scottish Ambulance Service, the State Hospital at Carstairs and the National Blood Transfusion Service.

Among the standards that trusts must achieve are a requirement for patients to be seen by staff with appropriate skills.

Lessons should also be learned from mistakes, risks should be assessed and minimised and patients and carers should be involved in decision-making.

Delayed discharge

But the report found that patients were not being involved enough, staff need better access to information, NHS bodies need better systems to manage potential risks and that staff shortages continue to impact on patient care.

The health minister said it was "encouraging" that improvements were being made across the health service.

But he vowed that more would be done to improve the complaints process within the NHS and that staff would be kept fully informed of health strategies.

Mr Chisholm added: "The QIS report shows that where there is improved communication and effective joint working, such as in the area of delayed discharge, patients are already experiencing improvements.