UNANNOUNCED spot checks to test standards of care in district general hospitals across Wales have found “no systemic issues of concern” a report published on October 16 has revealed.

Numerous examples of good and notable practice were found by the independent team carrying out the checks which far outweighed a few, isolated examples where shortcomings in patient care were identified.

Spot checks will now be extended to the standard of care for elderly patients on mental health wards in hospital.

Following the publication in May of the Trusted to Care report a series of immediate actions took place to ensure concerns identified in the care of older patients at Princess of Wales and Neath Port Talbot hospitals were not present in others in Wales.

An independent team carried out the checks, with University Hospital Llandough being checked on Monday, July 14 of this year, and focused on four areas highlighted in the report.

Overall spot checks took place between 6am and midnight and looked at medicines management, hydration, the use of night-time sedation and continence care.

The checks of all hospitals revealed no systemic issues of concern about patient hydration, continence needs or use of sedation, there were individual areas needed for improvement but there were many example of notable practice.

Wards throughout NHS Wales need to improve the way medicines are managed in regard to the safe and secure storage of them.