Media Release: Follow-up inspection reports for Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside
Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Tuesday 16 June) published reports relating to unannounced follow-up inspection visits to two NHS Tayside hospitals: Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital. The inspections took place the week commencing 16 February 2026.
The inspections are part of a series of targeted unannounced Safe Delivery of Care follow-up inspections of all NHS boards previously inspected. The focus of the follow-up inspections is to check progress on the NHS board’s previous inspection requirements and subsequent improvement action plans.
Speaking of the reports, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“During our follow-up inspection of Perth Royal Infirmary we observed staff working to provide compassionate and responsive care, which was also reflected in patient feedback.
“The hospital was clean and well-maintained, wards were calm and well-organised and staff were clear on their responsibilities.
“However, several areas required improvement including the provision of fundamentals of care. These include delays in helping patients to use the bathroom and the recording of medication.
“Further areas for improvement included ensuring the right staff are in the right place to support the safe delivery of care, as well as improving compliance with paediatric life support training and violence and aggression management training.
“During our previous inspection at Perth Royal Hospital we found poor compliance with hand hygiene practices and during the follow-up inspection we found this remains an area requiring improvement.
“Due to the findings from this follow-up inspection Healthcare Improvement Scotland will return to carry out a full unannounced Safe Delivery of Care inspection at a future date.
“During our follow-up inspection of Ninewells Hospital we found all areas were calm and well-organised. Patients were consistently treated with kindness, compassion and respect and they shared positive experiences describing staff as friendly and supportive.
“Inspectors found improvements had been made to the hospital environment which was clean and well-maintained. We also found significant improvements in the safe storage of medications and completion of paperwork.
“Whilst we acknowledge that significant progress has been made by NHS Tayside, some areas of improvement remain such as the safe storage of clinical waste and the safe storage of hazardous cleaning products.”
Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
The Perth Royal Hospital follow-up inspection resulted in one new recommendation, one previous requirement carried forward, one previous requirement partially met, and six new requirements.
The follow-up inspection at Ninewells Hospital resulted in three areas of good practice and two new or updated requirements. Three previous requirements were not met and have been carried forward.
An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Tayside to meet the requirements at both hospitals. Healthcare Improvement Scotland will seek assurance that improvement actions are progressed through future inspections.
The full inspection reports are available to view at:
https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/perth-royal-infirmary-unannounced-follow-up-inspection-report-june-2026/
https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/ninewells-hospital-unannounced-follow-up-inspection-report-june-2026/
Ends
Notes to editor
This report is part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s programme of inspections and reviews.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s statutory role is to help improve the quality of health and care, provide information to the public about the quality of health and care services, monitor public involvement, and to evaluate and provide advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of medicines and health technologies.