Media Release: Inspection report for Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Thursday 28 August) published a report relating to a safe delivery of care inspection visit to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The inspection took place from 11-12 June, 2025.
Our safe delivery of care inspections aim to take account of the changing risk considerations and sustained service pressures currently across NHS Scotland.
Speaking of the reports, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“Despite significant pressures on hospital capacity, inspectors saw multidisciplinary teams working together to deliver care.
“Patients and families were complimentary about the staff and care provided. Staff described supportive managers and senior charge nurses were easily identifiable and open to engage in conversation with inspectors. Staff and student nurses described a highly supportive environment for learning and development and friendly and a supportive culture in the hospital.
“The hospital huddles we attended were multidisciplinary and supported staff to identify potential staffing risks. Inspectors saw teams working hard to provide safe and effective care and this was reflected in feedback from patients and their relatives.
“The majority of wards were calm, well led and organised. Mealtimes were well co-ordinated and patients who needed assistance were provided with this in a timely manner.”
Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Areas for improvement included ensuring staff are trained in fire evacuation, completion and updating of patient care documentation, staff compliance with standard infection control precautions such as hand hygiene and the sharing of learning following reporting of incidents.
The inspection resulted in 13 areas of good practice, two recommendations and ten requirements.
Speaking of the importance of hospital inspections, Eddie Docherty, Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation, said:
“We currently undertake inspections focused on the safe delivery of care in Scotland’s acute hospitals, maternity services and mental health units. We believe it is important to provide public assurance that our NHS services are safe for patients and staff, provide quality person-centred care, with clear leadership and a focus on improvement. We would encourage the public to read the reports to better understand how their local NHS services are performing.”
Director of Quality Assurance, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Dumfries and Galloway to meet the requirements.
The full inspection report is available to view at:
https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/dumfries-galloway-royal-infirmary-safe-delivery-of-care-inspection-august-2025/
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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.