INSPECTORS have praised the standard of care at a Glasgow hospice after an unannounced visit.

The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice was visited by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) who looked at the work of senior medical staff, nursing and domestic staff as well as speaking to patients and relatives.

The Carlton Place-based hospice, which has 14 inpatient beds and cares for more than 1200 patients and families every year in daycare and on the wards, received excellent grades for involving patients in the planning of their care and treatment, the quality of staffing, management and leadership.

It was also graded very good for quality of care and support and environment.

Inspectors recommended that the hospice should improve the system and process for recording medicines reconciliation and should develop the infection control audit plan to include other standard infection control precautions, such as waste and linen management.

Senior inspector Kevin Freeman-Ferguson said: “During this inspection we found that The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice had excellent quality assurance systems and processes that involved service users, carers and staff to assess the quality of service.

“The service also had thorough systems in place to manage clinical and non-clinical equipment.”

Rhona Baillie, chief executive of The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, said: “We welcome the findings of the HIS report, underlining the highest standard of care we strive to achieve every day for patients and families.

“Glasgow’s Hospice prides itself on providing comfort and peace of mind as well as support for the physical and emotional problems related to a life-limiting illness.

“We always say that we may not be able to add days to lives but we can add life to days.

“That is not a glib statement: respect for patient choice with the emphasis on open communication means the we can provide the most comfortable end to a patient’s journey.”

The hospice is edging closer to a £21 million fundraising target, as part of the Evening Times supported of the Brick by Brick Appeal, to build a new facility on a green site in the city’s Bellahouston Park.