Media Release: Inspection report for University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire
Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Thursday 28 May) published a report relating to a Mental Health Services Safe Delivery of Care inspection at University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire. The inspection took place between 3 – 4 December, 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 University Hospital Wishaw, we inspected four wards, spoke to staff and patients and reviewed policies and procedures.
Speaking of the University Hospital Wishaw report, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“During our inspection we observed staff treating patients with care and compassion. Staff told inspectors they were well supported by their senior colleagues and leadership was visible on the wards. Senior managers spoke positively about the workplace while student nurses were complimentary about their learning experiences.
“The hospital environment, including communal areas, were clean and inspectors found that the majority of areas were well maintained.
“However, after reviewing incident reports, concerns were raised about the use of prone restraint, the lack of physical health monitoring during and post restraint, as well as the use of seclusion.
“Inspectors also observed that the use of mixed sex and mixed function wards is challenging for staff and patients with regards to privacy and dignity.”
Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Other areas for improvement included improved documentation and protected learning time for staff.
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 University Hospital Wishaw inspection resulted in four areas of good practice, three recommendations and 12 requirements.
An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Lanarkshire to meet the requirements.
The full inspection report is available to view at:https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/university-hospital-wishaw-mental-health-safe-delivery-of-care-inspection-report-may-2026/
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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.