Written Question · S4W-08394 · Session 4
What standards it will adopt for (a) advice from Health Facilities Scotland and (b) inspection by the Health Environment Inspectorate and t…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what standards it will adopt for (a) advice from Health Facilities Scotland and (b) inspection by the Health Environment Inspectorate and the Care Inspectorate for assessment of environments for dementia patients in (i) acute hospitals, (ii) accident and emergency departments and (iii) care homes.
The answer
The Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland (2011) contain standards on the assessment, provision and design of care environments for people with dementia. It includes a standard on the regular audit of acute general hospital settings and the requirement that adaptations and reasonable adjustments should be made in all settings to support people to remain as independent as possible. The standards signpost services to the Design for People with Dementia: Audit Tool (2008), produced by The Dementia Services Development Centre at The University of Stirling in collaboration with Health Facilities Scotland. Services will also want to consider using any new design tools as appropriate to help them in meeting these standards.
These standards will inform both the advice given to NHS boards by Health Facilities Scotland and any inspections by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) (including Health Environment Inspectorate) and the Care Inspectorate (CI) into the environmental aspects of dementia care. The current programme of inspections by HIS into the care of all older people, and those with dementia at all ages, in acute general hospital, includes a focus on these issues. The CI Inspection Plan for 2012-13 states that their planned inspections include an alignment with the Scottish Government prioritisation on improving dementia services.
The CI is also designating a network of qualified nurse inspectors to concentrate on the work around the Dementia Standards now being rolled out across care homes and care at home settings. The CI is working closely with the Scottish Social Services Council to develop and raise awareness of the Promoting Excellence dementia skills framework to improve dementia standards of care in care home, care at home and adult day care services.
The forthcoming review of the National Care Standards will include their formal alignment with the Dementia Standards.
These standards will inform both the advice given to NHS boards by Health Facilities Scotland and any inspections by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) (including Health Environment Inspectorate) and the Care Inspectorate (CI) into the environmental aspects of dementia care. The current programme of inspections by HIS into the care of all older people, and those with dementia at all ages, in acute general hospital, includes a focus on these issues. The CI Inspection Plan for 2012-13 states that their planned inspections include an alignment with the Scottish Government prioritisation on improving dementia services.
The CI is also designating a network of qualified nurse inspectors to concentrate on the work around the Dementia Standards now being rolled out across care homes and care at home settings. The CI is working closely with the Scottish Social Services Council to develop and raise awareness of the Promoting Excellence dementia skills framework to improve dementia standards of care in care home, care at home and adult day care services.
The forthcoming review of the National Care Standards will include their formal alignment with the Dementia Standards.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-08394 by reference.