A ‘world first’ interdisciplinary team has been brought together in a new national risk management body to oversee hospital building projects in Scotland.  

Established in the wake of high-profile infection outbreaks at hospitals in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the new national service – NHS Scotland Assure – is set to ‘improve the quality and management of healthcare construction and refurbishment projects across NHS Scotland’.

A team that includes microbiologists, infection prevention and control nurses, architects, planners, and engineers has been brought together to work with Scotland’s health boards on ensuring infection prevention and control in the design of NHS buildings.

The service, which is part of NHS National Services Scotland, will work with Health Boards to ensure healthcare buildings are designed with infection prevention and control practice in mind, protecting patients and improving safety.

Newly-appointed Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf said: “NHS Scotland Assure will support a culture of collaboration and transparency to provide the reassurance patients and their families deserve to feel safe in our hospitals.

“This service is unique to Scotland and is leading the way in risk and quality management across healthcare facilities.

“With services designed with patients in mind, we can make a real, positive difference to people’s lives.”

Gordon James, Director of Procurement, Commissioning and Facilities for National Services Scotland added: “We co-designed NHS Scotland Assure with colleagues to improve quality and reduce risk in our healthcare buildings and facilities across Scotland.

“NHS Scotland Assure will work collaboratively with Health Boards to make sure our buildings are compliant with the best available guidance and evidence.”

Read more: New service seeks senior nursing staff; Date set for new NHS infection fighting service

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