Media release: Inspection Report Gartnavel General Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Thursday 12 February) published a report relating to an unannounced follow-up inspection visit to Gartnavel General Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The inspection took place on 25 November 2025.
This inspection is 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.
We carried out an unannounced Safe Delivery of Care inspection at Gartnavel General Hospital from 23 – 24 May, 2023, where, as well as noting six areas of good practice, a total of three requirements were made to the NHS board. On 25 November 2025 we carried out an unannounced follow up inspection to assess progress made against the actions in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2023 improvement action plan.
Previous inspection requirements in 2023 included, hand hygiene, medication management and the safe storage of medicines.
Speaking of the report, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“During this follow-up inspection, inspectors observed significant improvements have been made to the safe storage of medications. The majority of medicine trolleys and cupboards were locked and no medicines were left unattended at patients’ bedsides.
“The majority of areas showed good compliance with ensuring that all hazardous cleaning products were securely stored.
“We saw improvements around hand hygiene compliance. however, some hand hygiene opportunities were still missed within some of the wards inspected.
“Patients were consistently treated with kindness, compassion and respect. Patients and relatives shared positive experiences, confirming they could access help when needed.”
Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
This follow-up inspection resulted in three areas of good practice, no recommendations and no new requirements. One previous requirement relating to hand hygiene has been carried forward to support further improvement.
An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in order to meet the requirement.
The full inspection report is available to view at: https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/gartnavel-general-hospital-unannounced-follow-up-inspection-report-february-2026/
Ends
Notes to editor
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.