By Paul Reoch

PERTH BUSINESSWOMAN Ann Gloag yesterday gave £1 million towards an initiative geared at improving compassionate care in nursing.

Mrs Gloag, the co-founder of transport group Stagecoach, and a former nurse herself, funded the Leadership in Compassionate Care initiative, which is a three-year project run by Napier University and NHS Lothian that aims to ensure patients receive compassionate, person-centred care.

“Nurses have many more time pressures and responsibilities today than when I was a nurse and as a result, sometimes, the care a patient receives lacks the ‘human touch’ that is so important,” she said yesterday.

“This initiative is designed to help nurses ensure that compassion is part of everything they do and that is why I am pleased to fund the project for the next three years.

“We hope the initiative will result in improvements that can then be rolled out across Scotland with the backing of the Scottish Executive.”

Professor Joan Stringer, principal and vice-chancellor of Napier University, added, “We are extremely grateful to Mrs Gloag for this generous gift, which will allow the university and NHS Lothian to work together to embed the principles of compassionate care in all aspects of Napier’s nurse education and nursing practice.”

Heather Tierney-Moore, NHS Lothian Nurse director, said, “This generous gift will enable us to develop a number of additional approaches, building on our existing commitment to high-quality person-centred care.

“This will help to ensure Napier University students and alumni and other NHS nurses are able to demonstrate compassionate care principles in all their daily activities.

“It will also enable us to review undergraduate curriculum and support newly-qualified nurses in the workplace to ensure they can put their caring skills into practice.

“An increasing number of patient surveys have identified that when patients feel vulnerable or unsure, the ‘human touch’ is very important.

“Often, in a busy clinical area, what may appear to be insignificant or low priority aspects of care can be lost to more technical interventions and tasks.”

The project will see the establishment of four Beacon Wards throughout NHS Lothian, where existing best- practice will be nurtured and rolled out elsewhere.

In addition, a new online mentoring service will be introduced along with master-classes for students and graduates, and a dedicated website providing advice and support.

Nicola Sturgeon, cabinet secretary for health and wellbeing, Scottish Executive, said, “Through projects like this one we will help reinforce the importance of compassionate care and ensure every patient gets the quality of care they deserve while in hospital.”

Mrs Gloag has previously donated £7.5 million to the Mercy Ships UK charity. One of their ships, the Africa Mercy, set sail last month.

The former Danish rail ferry, which has been converted into a hospital ship, will provide free healthcare and community development services to the poorest people in war-torn Liberia.