THE Vale of Leven Hospital has been judged 'excellent' by healthcare inspectors in a new Covid safety report.

Following an unannounced visit in February, a team from Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) said there were no areas where the hospital needed to improve.

The HIS report says staff at the hospital "were committed to maintaining person centred care" and highlighted the way they promoted virtual communication with families who were not able to visit due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The inspectors also found that staff compliance with standard infection control precautions was good, the standard of cleanliness throughout the hospital was very good, and that staff felt well supported through the pandemic and had received appropriate Covid-related education.

The report was based on a day-long inspection of wards 14 and 15, the Lomond ward, the hospital's community midwife unit, and public and staff areas.

It found five areas of good practice and made no recommendations for improvement.

Margaret O'Rourke, the hospital's lead nurse and clinical services manager, said: “The Vale of Leven Hospital is an excellent facility and this report highlights just how well the staff have responded to the huge challenge presented by the pandemic.

"My thanks once again go to our incredible staff who have worked exceptionally hard to protect the local community in these unprecedented times.”

Inspectors also found that staff, with whom they spoke to, had good knowledge of transmission based precautions and also witnessed staff complying with social distancing recommendations where possible.

Melanie McColgan, the Clyde area director at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “This is an excellent review of the Vale, made in very challenging times.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has made unprecedented demands on our staff and resources.

"Yet this report highlights just how well our staff have responded and that they have felt supported by hospital management and infection prevention and control colleagues.

“We are a great team and this report reflects that.

"My thanks go to all the hard working staff at the Vale for their hard work and determination during a very difficult year.”