A PATIENT was not fed for eight days while being cared for at a unit linked to Glasgow's newest hospital.

The findings were revealed in a report by watchdogs Health Improvement Scotland, after an unannounced inspection of the £842m Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and other units on campus. 

Between September 7 and 11, Inspectors visited wards at the new hospital, as well as the Langlands Unit - a specialist unit on the same campus which treats the elderly. 

The patient, who had been assessed as nil by mouth, had not received anything to eat since they were admitted to the hospital eight days previously. They were supposed to be fed through tubes but staff failed to provide them with any nutrition at all. 

A spokesman from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde denied any wrongdoing, and said the patient had suffered a stroke and was unable to swallow.

He added that it would have been "medically inappropriate" to provide nutrition, and the patient's family was "fully involved" in the care,

He said: " The patient was too unwell to swallow through a peg or nasal tube.

"The patient was adminstered with IV fluids." 

Inspectors said in the report they had "concerns about the care delivered" in the specialist unit, and have 18 recommendations for improvement, as well as highlighting five areas of good practice. 

They were concerned about a lack of leadership, low staff levels, poor nutritional care, delays or failure to refer patients to dietitians, poor completion of documents, and locked Wards which were restricting patient access in and out of them.

Jacqui Macrae, head of quality of care for HIS said: "In our inspection, we were encouraged to see that many dementia design principles have been incorporated throughout the hospital, making it a dementia-friendly environment, and to see the improvement work being undertaken and supported by the falls co-ordinator to reduce the risk of falls when in hospital.

"We found that further improvement is required to ensure that all older people are assessed within the national standard recommended timescales.

"We also highlighted the need for assessments to be accurate and fully completed, and all patients with the most severe pressure ulcers are referred to the tissue viability service at the earliest opportunity."

Margaret McGuire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Nurse Director, said: “Today’s report highlights a number of positive findings about both the environment and the care provided to patients within the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

"However a number or concerns have been raised about the Langlands Unit - a separate standalone facility within the campus – which we have already action to address.

“The key pad entry system referred to within the Langlands Unit has already been taken out of use and a new arrangement to protect vulnerable patients has been introduced. Every patient is individually assessed and if required an activity tracker is worn by them with the full consent of their families. This new arrangement follows best practice in accordance with the Mental Welfare Commission’s guidance.

“Record keeping has again been highlighted by the inspectorate team as being inconsistent. I am confident that this is not a reflection on the care being given – our staff put patients at the forefront of everything they do.

“However I appreciate that good record keeping is a vital component of care and communication between staff and with patients and relatives, and I have personally overseen a process to reinforce and monitor effective record keeping. This includes the introduction of a daily process of spot checks to ensure that care plans are being completed and are reflecting the care being delivered.

“I want to offer reassurance that an assessment of staffing levels is made in each and every ward across NHSGGC on a day to day basis to ensure that staffing levels are safe and appropriate.

“We were always clear however that we would review nursing and midwifery staffing levels once the new model of acute services was in place. This work is underway and I am pleased that the Chief Nursing Officer is working with me on this."