Healthcare Improvement Scotland

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Healthcare Improvement Scotland

The purpose of Healthcare Improvement Scotland is to enable the people of Scotland to experience the

We believe that every person in Scotland should receive the best care possible every time We have five key priorities. These are areas where we believe we can make the most impact and where we focus our efforts and resources.

1. Enabling people to make informed decisions about their care and treatment.
2. Helping health and social care organisations to redesign and continuously improve services.
3. Provide evidence and share knowledge that enables people to get the best out of the services they use and helps services improve.
4. Provide quality assurance that gives people confidence in the services and supports providers to improve.
5. Making the best use of resources, we aim to ensure every pound invested in our work adds value to the care people receive.

23/12/2025

Our offices will be closed from 25 December 2025 until 5 January 2026.

The Death Certification Review Service will remain open.

Thank you to everyone who has worked with us to help improve the quality of health and social care in Scotland throughout 2025.

19/12/2025

Earlier this week we held our Annual Review, where we reflected on the progress we have made over the last year.

This was an opportunity for us to highlight the work we have been doing towards improving care for the people and communities we serve throughout Scotland.

Missed the public session? You can catch up on this and access our resources on our website. Link in comments.

Neil Gray MSP The Scottish Government

18/12/2025

We are hosting a Scottish Approach to Change launch webinar on Monday 19 January! 🚀

This is an opportunity to discover how our approach can help you and your organisation deliver effective change. From large scale organisational change to smaller focused projects.

This is a free online event for anyone working across health and social care, including in:
• NHS boards and HSCPs
• the third sector
• the independent sector
• community organisations

Spaces are limited! Follow the link in the comments and sign up now.

17/12/2025

Our Mental Health and Substance Use Programme team recently partnered with Drugs Research Network Scotland for an in-person event focused on putting evidence into practice to improve support for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.

Speakers shared practical insights on partnership working and why it is key to improve patient outcomes.

Follow the link in the comments to catch up and explore the resources.

16/12/2025

We recently heard from Health Secretary Neil Gray MSP on the Scottish Approach to Change.

Mr Gray updated health, social care, third sector, and independent sector colleagues at our recent launch event. He discussed how the Scottish Approach to Change provides us with a clear pathway for making change happen based on the values of collaboration, compassion, and continuous improvement.

Head to the comments to find out more about our approach and access our digital tool. 👇 The Scottish Government

16/12/2025

We are looking for registered healthcare professionals to work with our Healthcare Staffing Programme. Could this be you?

The role involves undertaking observation studies of clinical activity in care environments. We are recruiting a bank of observers to support this work.

You will need to have knowledge and experience of inpatient ward settings and clinical care provided to patients.

Closing date for applications is 5 January 2026.

Follow the link in the comments and apply now.

15/12/2025

Celebrating a year of health and care improvements across Scotland!

Today we held our Annual Review, looking back at the progress we have made to improve healthcare for people across Scotland.

This year we focused on:
• ensuring safer health and care
• supporting swifter access to care closer to home
• providing solutions that enable high quality care

Head to Vimeo to discover the improvements we have made to Scotland’s health and care system. Link in the comments.

The Scottish Government Neil Gray MSP

09/12/2025

We’ve published an inspection report for Ailsa Hospital, NHS Ayrshire and Arran. It’s the latest of our Safe Delivery of Care inspections of mental health services.

Link is in the comments to read the report.

02/12/2025

Deadline fast approaching!!! Closing date: Friday 5 December.

We’re recruiting for two new members to join the Scottish Health Council and help shape the future of health and care services in Scotland.

Help us make a difference, follow the link in the comments and apply now!

01/12/2025

Scotland’s population is ageing — and so is the need for better support for older people living with frailty.

Our ‘Hospital and community services for older people living with frailty in Scotland report’ provides an overview of services for older people living with frailty in Scotland.

By 2047, the number of people aged 65+ is projected to rise by 67%. As frailty progresses, people need more help to live well — from both health and social care services.

At Healthcare Improvement Scotland, our Focus on Frailty programme is working to improve care for older people in both hospitals and communities. Using quality improvement methods, we’re helping services adapt to meet growing needs and reduce pressure on hospitals.

Community services are making a real difference:

• 37% fewer GP appointments after wellbeing reviews
• 11% reduction in medicines after polypharmacy reviews — including those linked to falls and hospital admissions

Hospitals are seeing impact too:

• One hospital reduced average stay by 4 days, avoiding costs of up to £4.2 million a year by focusing on frailty
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Focus on Frailty programme is currently supporting 15 out of the 28 hospitals that accept emergency admissions. As of the end of September 2025, 87% (13/15) of hospitals that accept emergency admissions and are participating in the Focus on Frailty programme provided access to specialist staff in frailty teams. Over the same time period, 68% (19/28) of all hospitals that accept emergency admissions in Scotland reported that they provided access to specialist staff in frailty teams. The remaining hospitals that accept emergency admissions were working to understand the system or develop and design their frailty services.

But challenges remain. 15% of older people are readmitted within 28 days of discharge — each time increasing their frailty and care needs.

Improving how we identify and respond to frailty is key to helping older people live healthier, more independent lives.

Read our report to find out what’s working well and what the barriers are to making a meaningful difference for older people living with frailty. Link in comments.

28/11/2025

Last week we held a launch event for the Scottish Approach to Change. 🚀

Head to our website to find out more about this event and how the approach is being used in practice. 👇

27/11/2025

We’ve published our latest maternity services Safe Delivery of Care inspection report for Forth Valley Royal Hospital, NHS Forth Valley.

Link is in the comments to read the report.

Address

1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH129EB

Website

http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/

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Healthcare Improvement Scotland

We are Healthcare Improvement Scotland, an organisation with many parts and one purpose - better quality health and social care for everyone in Scotland.

We have five key priorities.

These are areas where we believe we can make the most impact and where we focus our efforts and resources.

Enabling people to make informed decisions about their care and treatment.

Helping health and social care organisations to redesign and continuously improve services.

Provide evidence and share knowledge that enables people to get the best out of the services they use and helps services improve.

Provide quality assurance that gives people confidence in the services and supports providers to improve.

Making the best use of resources, we aim to ensure every pound invested in our work adds value to the care people receive.

Our broad work programme supports health and social care services to improve.

This includes the regulation of independent hospitals and clinics along with the following key parts of our organisation which have specific roles:

The Improvement Hub (ihub) Helps health and social care providers design and deliver better services for the people of Scotland.

Scottish Health Council Supports NHS boards and health and social care providers to involve patients and the public in the development of services.

Scottish Health Technologies Group Provides advice on the clinical and cost effectiveness of healthcare technologies that are likely to have significant implications for patient care in Scotland.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Develops evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for NHSScotland.

Scottish Medicines Consortium Accepts for use those newly-licensed medicines that clearly represent good value for money to NHSScotland.

Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) We work with NHS boards across health and care settings in Scotland to improve antibiotic use, to optimise patient outcomes and to minimise harm to individuals and to wider society.

Scottish Patient Safety Programme Improves the safety and reliability of healthcare and reduces harm, whenever care is delivered.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

23/12/2025

19/12/2025

18/12/2025

17/12/2025

16/12/2025

16/12/2025

15/12/2025

09/12/2025

02/12/2025

01/12/2025

28/11/2025

27/11/2025

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Healthcare Improvement Scotland