Positive report for Western Isles Hospital on patient care, staff training and the hospital environment

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has published its follow-up inspection report for Western Isles Hospital, carried out in October 2025. The report reflects substantial progress since the previous inspection, with inspectors reporting positively on patient care, staff training, and the hospital environment.

In the latest inspection, the hospital environment was found to be clean and well maintained, staff were observed delivering person-centred, compassionate care, and all patients and families spoke highly of care received.

The inspection also confirmed enhanced compliance with critical training requirements, including paediatric and adult life support, child and adult protection, and fire safety. Governance processes and incident reporting systems have also strengthened, supporting a safer and more responsive care environment.

HIS conducts inspections of all acute hospitals across NHS Scotland to focus on the safe delivery of care. An unannounced inspection of Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway was undertaken in September 2024. At that point, whilst areas of good practice were highlighted, there were also 22 requirements for improvement.

Follow-up inspections of all Boards previously inspected were undertaken from August 2025, with the Western Isles Hospital follow-up taking place on October 13 and 14, 2025.

The summary of findings for the latest inspection stated: “We observed staff working collaboratively to provide compassionate and responsive care. Inspectors found the hospital environment was clean and well maintained. We found improvements in compliance rates of staff trained in paediatric and adult immediate life support. Additionally, we observed improved staff training figures relating to child and adult support and protection and regarding fire training compliance.

“Previously we raised concerns regarding governance processes, in relation to the development and review of policies and procedures. We found all acute policies and procedures were current, ratified and up to date. Other areas for improvement identified during the previous inspection included the completion of patient documentation, and the safe storage of medication and cleaning products. During this inspection we found all medicines stored securely. However, there continued to be inconsistencies with completion of documentation, and cleaning products were not stored securely.”

While inspectors acknowledged significant progress has been made by NHS Western Isles, some areas for improvement remain, such as the completion of patient care documentation, maintenance of patient dignity (access to showers), and the safe storage of cleaning products.

NHS Western Isles has already implemented a comprehensive improvement action plan to address these requirements. Actions include the rollout of revised documentation processes, enhanced staffing systems, and a business case for ward refurbishment to improve patient facilities.

In terms of access to shower facilities, NHS Western Isles has made it clear to HIS that the Board is committed to the full refurbishment of Medical Ward 2 – but that this will require capital investment (a business case for which has not yet been approved by Scottish Government) as well as a suitable decant facility for a prolonged period. In the meantime, an additional shower was reinstated in Medical Ward 2 in February 2025 and patients continue to be supported to use showering facilities in Erisort Ward.

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, said: “We welcome the findings of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s follow-up inspection and are pleased that the significant improvements made at Western Isles Hospital have been recognised. The report highlights the dedication and professionalism of our staff in delivering safe, compassionate, person-centred care, and in strengthening governance and training compliance. We acknowledge that some areas still require attention, we are committed to addressing these as part of our ongoing improvement plan. Our priority remains ensuring the highest standards of care for our patients and supporting our staff to deliver this objective.”

Speaking of the report, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “During this follow-up inspection we found improvements in compliance rates of staff trained in paediatric and adult immediate life support. There were also improved staff training figures relating to child and adult support and protection and fire training compliance.

“We saw staff working collaboratively to provide compassionate and responsive care and the hospital was clean and well maintained.

“All acute policies and procedures were current, ratified and up to date and all medicines were stored securely. However, there continued to be inconsistencies with completion of documentation, and cleaning products were not stored securely.

“Whilst significant progress has been made by NHS Western Isles, some areas of improvement remain, such as the completion of patient care documentation, maintenance of patient dignity and the safe storage of cleaning products”.

This follow-up inspection resulted in three areas of good practice, no recommendations and five new or updated requirements. Six previous requirements from the September 2024 inspection were not met and have been carried over.

The full inspection report is available to view at: https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/western-isles-hospital-unannounced-follow-up-inspection-report-october-2025/