Media Release: Inspection report Forth Valley Royal Hospital, NHS Forth Valley
Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Wednesday 28 January) published a report relating to a Safe Delivery of Care inspection of Acute Adult in-patient services at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, NHS Forth Valley. The inspection took place between 25 – 26 August, 2025.
Our safe delivery of care inspections of adult mental health services aim to take account of the changing risk considerations and sustained service pressures currently across NHS Scotland.
During our inspection to the Mental Health Unit of Forth Valley Royal Hospital, we inspected five wards, spoke to staff and patients and reviewed policies and procedures.
As a result of concerns identified that required immediate improvement, we wrote to NHS Forth Valley on two occasions. We raised significant concerns regarding adult support and protection, including awareness and assessment of sexual safety. We also raised concerns about patient safety, governance and assurance, and oversight of the mental health unit. In addition, we sought assurance on improvement actions related to staff training rates and patient dignity and respect within the adult mixed sex wards.
Speaking of the Forth Valley Royal Hospital report, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“During our inspection we saw staff treating patients with care and compassion. Mealtimes were well organised and patients were offered a choice of meals.
“However, areas for improvement include ligature assessments which were inconsistently completed and did not align with NHS Forth Valley’s own ligature risk assessment policy. The healthcare environment was variable with some areas in a poor state of repair.
“Improvements are required in the oversight of patient and staff safety incidents, including delays in reviews of adverse events. We also observed the impact of low staffing levels on staff training and supervision with low rates of basic life support training and child protection training.”
Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Eddie Docherty, Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“Our previous mental health inspection programme was focused on infection prevention and control. It was agreed with Scottish Government to widen the inspection focus from infection prevention and control to a broader assurance function, creating a new and revised ‘safe delivery of care’ assurance model in NHS adult mental health units.
“We believe it is important to provide public assurance that adult mental health units in Scotland are safe for patients and staff, provide quality person-centred care, with clear leadership and a focus on improvement.”
Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
The Forth Valley Royal Hospital inspection resulted in eight areas of good practice, one recommendation and 19 requirements.
An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Forth Valley to meet the requirements.
The full inspection report is available to view at: https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/forth-valley-royal-hospital-mental-health-safe-delivery-of-care-inspection-report-january-2026/
Ends
Notes to editor
This report is part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s programme of inspections and reviews.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland is the national improvement agency for health and care in Scotland. We provide independent assurance of the quality and safety of the care provided by Scotland’s health and care system and measure how outcomes for people are improving and inequalities reducing. With partner organisations, we will consider how services are working together as an integrated system to implement improvements.