A retired Fife councillor has called for a “change of leadership” at NHS Fife after a damning inspection into the care of elderly and vulnerable patients at the Victoria Hospital.
Former Methilhill member Joyce Smith, who also sat on Fife Health Board, said she was in the Victoria Hospital being treated for a broken elbow when Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s inspection was carried out around eight weeks ago.
Having been in the hospital for four weeks before the visit, she claims NHS bosses had redeployed staff for the purposes of the inspection claims rejected by NHS Fife.
And in future she would like to see unannounced inspections to give a “truer picture” of how hospitals are being managed.
Mrs Smith, who is now recuperating in Cameron Hospital at Windygates, said: “I was in orthopaedic ward 31 at the Vic during the inspection.
“In the weeks before it was very short-staffed and yet during the three days that inspectors were in, there were staff ensuring everyone used handwipes, which they hadn’t bothered doing before.
“But in the end the inspectors didn’t even come in to ward 31.”
She added: “I’m full of praise for the staff. I can’t praise them highly enough at the Vic and Cameron they work very very hard.
“But I think they need more recognition from hospital bosses for what they do. They definitely need more staff. They need a better ratio of staff.”
Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s report, published on July 8, told of patients being wheeled along a corridor to the toilet on commodes rather than wheelchairs.
George Cunningham, director of acute services at NHS Fife said: “We did not redeploy staff for the purpose of the inspection.
“We did not attempt to hide or diminish how busy it was in the hospital during their visit. An action plan has been developed to address the issues raised in the report.
“When an announced inspection is undertaken NHS boards are given no advance warning of which wards the inspectors wish to access in advance of the inspectors arriving on site.”