A GLASGOW hospital has been rapped for elderly care proce-dures in an official report.

Inspectors identified 15 areas for improvement relating to nutrition, resuscitation procedures and dementia screening at Gartnavel General Hospital.

The report found only one out of six 'do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation' (DNACR) forms had been completed correctly by staff.

Three had been signed by junior doctors with no countersignature from the consultant responsible for care and on one form there was no evidence the patient had the capacity to make the decision.

Inspectors found that mealtimes for elderly patients were poorly co-ordinated and patients were not prepared for eating and drinking before their meal arrived.

A patient who was screened as "high risk" for malnutrition three days after admission was not checked again until three weeks later. Patients are required to be screened within 24 hours of admission and then weekly if identified as 'high risk'.

Inspectors said wards were not "dementia friendly" and screening for cognitive impairment was not routinely carried out in patients over 65 years as required when they were admitted to hospital.

There was also "limited evidence" of effective discharge planning for patients, which can lead to patients being kept in hospital longer than required.

The elderly care inspection, by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, also found that some patients are moved from the Western Infirmary to Gartnavel in the late evening.

The health board said an internal transfer system had been introduced to prevent late transfers.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has put together an action plan to address the other areas for improvement.

However, inspectors saw "good examples" of caring and friendly interactions between staff and patients. Patient care was carried out in a way that maintained patient dignity and respect.

Of the 75 patients who completed a questionnaire, 92% said the quality of care they received was good.

NHSGGC's acute director of nursing Rory Farrelly said: "We were pleased to note the number of positive findings at Gartnavel General Hospital by the HEI inspectors.

"In particular, we were pleased that the inspectors noted that interaction between staff and patients was warm and caring.

"However, we recognise that there are still areas we need to address and an improvement plan has been developed to ensure that the requirements and recommendations made by the inspection team are implemented."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk