guidance, driving improvement, assessing

Contact Us | Glossary | Site Map | Links | Help | Accessibility | Low Graphics |  Text Size: A |  A+ |  A++

Advanced Search

Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI)

HEI will make announced and unannounced inspections to every acute hospital in Scotland at least once every 3 years.
 
Patients are at the heart of everything HEI does. Our work is publicly accessible and measures the things that are important to patients.
 
To find out more about the work of the HEI, download our general information leaflet.

Providing assurance and supporting improvement

Our focus is to reduce the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) risk to patients through a rigorous inspection framework.  Our aims are to:

  • provide public assurance and protection, to restore public trust and confidence
  • contribute to the prevention and control of HAI
  • contribute to improvement in the healthcare environment including infection control, cleanliness and hygiene and the broader quality improvement agenda across NHSScotland.

Established in April 2009

The Scottish Government produced a 2008 consultation paper ‘Healthcare Associated Infections – Inspection, Assurance and Public Confidence’. This paper planned for a new inspectorate based in NHS QIS to deliver its arrangements.

HEI’s function is to:

  • give NHS boards a proactive, assertive way to self-assess and report evidence
  • create a methodology for analysing NHS board evidence that can validate, risk assess and identify targets for inspection
  • carry out rigorous inspections, from NHS board level to hospital level to ward/clinical level
  • continuously monitor NHS board improvement plans
  • make inspection findings public
  • make recommendations to Scottish Ministers.

Key stakeholders

The HEI work with a number of internal and external key stakeholders. These stakeholders are listed in our key stakeholders flowchart.

Key stakeholders flowchart (PDF, 162K, 45secs)

We will publish our inspection findings and a produce a Chief Inspector's Annual Report report each year.

The HEI team

The HEI team is led by, Susan Brimelow, Chief Inspector. The team includes:

  • 3 Regional Inspectors
  • 6 Associate Inspectors
  • 10 Associate Inspectors (Patient Focus)
  • 1 Programme Manager
  • 3 Project Officers
  • 2 Project Administrators
  • 1 PA to the Chief Inspector/Unit Support Administrator.

Get more information

  • Tracy Walker, 0131 623 4731

Email our HEI team for more information.