We’ve published new maternity care standards that set clear expectations for how maternity care should be delivered in Scotland. They outline the levels of high-quality care and support that women should expect to receive before, during and after birth. Link is in the comments.

We've published an inspection report for maternity services at Victoria Hospital, NHS Fife. Follow the link in the comments to read the report.

Have you signed up to receive our eNews? It's your quick and easy round-up to all the news from Healthcare Improvement Scotland, every month. Link to sign up in comments. #health #care #healthcare #medical

We've published our latest joint inspection with the Care Inspectorate. We have carried out a joint inspection of adult services for Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership Link in comments.

We've published new advice on the use of new and existing health technologies. Our latest advice looks at specialist interventions for adults with chronic pain that is not caused by cancer and has not improved after treatment in primary care. Link in the comments to find out more.

In conjunction with the Mental Welfare Commission, we've published a national overview report following a programme of unannounced visits and inspections to Scotland’s children and young people’s inpatient mental health units (CAMHS). The link to the report is in the comments.

Our organisation has today warned the public of the dangers of so-called cosmetic tourism. The warning comes as a growing number of people sign up for cosmetic and surgical treatments abroad. Follow the link in the comments to find out more.

We're interested in your views on the draft SIGN guideline on the management of chronic pain. Feedback should be submitted by 12 noon on Wednesday 11th March 2026. Links to the comments form and the draft guideline are in the comments.

We’ve published a joint inspection report for a child and adolescent mental health unit in Scotland (CAMHS). The report for Dudhope Young People’s Inpatient Unit was produced in conjunction with the Mental Welfare Commission. The link to the report is in the comments.

Would you like to see how our Board makes decisions that shape our work? If so, attend our next Board meeting. Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 10:30am in our Glasgow office and MS Teams. Meeting papers will be published on our website. Email [email protected] to register your interest.

We’ve developed clinical governance standards that will provide assurance that healthcare is delivered in line with best practice, national policy and legislation. Clinical governance is an integral and essential part of the NHS governance framework. Link is in the comments.

We are holding a webinar exploring what recovery can achieve - and why it matters - in the Drug and Alcohol Mission in Scotland. Link in comments.

We’ve published a joint inspection report for a child and adolescent mental health unit in Scotland (CAMHS). The report for Skye House was produced in conjunction with the Mental Welfare Commission. The link to the report is in the comments.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium considers a range of factors when deciding whether to accept a new medicine. Patient representatives are an important part of the process. In this video, SMA UK explains the importance of including the patient voice. Link to watch the video is in the comments.

We’ve published standards for the national diabetic eye screening programme which aims to reduce the incidence of vision loss through diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms in the early stages so screening is important to treat it early. Link in comments to read more.

Calling all NHS boards, HSCPs and general practice Join our Focus on Frailty 2026-2027 programme. It aims to improve health and social care for older people living with frailty. Apply by 5pm on Friday 13 March 2026 using the link in the comments.

We recently launched our Scottish Approach to Change Learning Community. Our community aims to support change across health and social care in Scotland. We plan to help members build knowledge, understanding, and confidence when delivering change. Link is in the comments.

We’ve published our latest inspection report for Gartnavel General Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Link is in the comments to read the report.

In January we held our Scottish Approach to Change Launch Webinar, with almost 1,000 people registered to join. We heard from colleagues across Scotland on how our approach is supporting them. The link is in the comments to watch it back and access our event resources.

Our dementia reducing stress and distress improvement programme is still open for applications. It is open to hospital and care home services. Apply by 5pm, Friday 20 February 2026. Find out more on our website. Link in the comments. @careinspect #NHSEducationforScotland

The Essentials of Safe Care is a practical package of evidence-based guidance and support that enables Scotland’s health and social care system to deliver safe care. @healthimprovescot.bsky.social www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/improving-ca...

We’ve published an inspection report for maternity services at University Hospital Crosshouse, NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Follow the link in the comments to read the report.

We've published new advice which supports decision-making across health and social care settings. Our latest advice looks at the potential use of surgical care practitioners in performing routine, high-volume, low-complexity surgical procedures. Link is in the comments to read more.

We’ve published a joint inspection report for child and adolescent mental health units in Scotland (CAMHS). The report for the National Child Psychiatry Inpatient Unit was produced in conjunction with the Mental Welfare Commission. The link to the report is in the comments.

We’ve published an inspection report for Forth Valley Royal Hospital, NHS Forth Valley. It’s the latest of our Safe Delivery of Care inspections of mental health services. Link is in the comments to read the report.

We’ve published an inspection report for maternity services at Western Isles Hospital, NHS Western Isles. Follow the link in the comments to read the report.

Join us for the Q Scotland Annual Online Collaboration Event! This year we’re exploring Enabling Change — with practical projects, new approaches, and cross‑sector learning to support high‑quality care. Register now, link in comments #QScotland #QualityImprovement

Work to develop the scope for the domestic homicide and suicide review standards is currently underway. We welcome your feedback and encourage you to take part in our consultation. Find out more at the link in the comments.

We’ve published our latest inspection report for Western Isles Hospital, NHS Western Isles. Follow the link in the comments to read the report.

We've published new advice on the use of new and existing health technologies. Our latest advice looks at the clinical effectiveness and performance of low-field extremity MRI scanners for musculoskeletal imaging. To read the latest advice, see the link in the comments.

Ann Gow, our Deputy Chief Executive, has been given a key role in the newly set-up Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce. She’ll use her extensive experience in health care to help improve maternity services for families across Scotland. Link is in the comments to read more.

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.

We are hosting a Scottish Approach to Change launch webinar on Monday 19 January! 🚀 Find out how our approach can help you and your organisation deliver effective change. This is a free online event for anyone working across health and social care.

We are looking for registered healthcare professionals to work with our Healthcare Staffing Programme. You will undertake observation studies of clinical care. Closes 5 Jan 26.

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.

Scotland’s 65+ population is set to rise by 67% by 2047 & so will the number living with frailty. Our report looks into what’s working well and what the barriers are to making a meaningful difference for older people living with frailty. Link in comment #Frailty #NHSScotland

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.

Our 16th Citizen's Panel report looks at experiences of care. Link in comments.

🔈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! 📅 Closing date is Friday 5 December.

🔈We’re Hiring We’re looking for an experienced Consultant Psychiatrist to take on a national leadership role as Strategic National Clinical Lead for Mental Health. 📅 Apply by Wednesday 26 November 2025. #MentalHealth #WeAreHiring

Do you want to find out more about the work of Healthcare Improvement Scotland? Our Annual Review takes place on Monday 15 December 2025 from 2.00pm-3.00pm. You can join in-person at our Glasgow office or online using MS Teams. Register before 27 November 2025 using the link in the comments.

🔈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! 📅 Closing date is Friday 5 December.

We’ve published an inspection report for Royal Edinburgh Hospital, NHS Lothian. It’s the latest of our Safe Delivery of Care inspections of mental health services. Link is in the comments to read the report.

You're invited to join us at our next Board meeting on 2 December 2025 at 10:30am. You can join in-person at our Glasgow office or on MS Teams. Register now through the email below to join. [email protected]

We’ve updated our standards for newborn blood spot screening. Blood spot screening is offered to all newborn babies to identify specific conditions after birth. The test is done by taking a blood sample from the baby's heel. Read the standards at the link in the comments.

We’ve published our latest inspection report for Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, NHS Golden Jubilee. Link is in the comments to read the report.

We’re developing standards for the national diabetic eye screening programme which aims to reduce the incidence of vision loss through diabetes. The consultation on our draft standards closes on 27 November and we welcome your feedback. Take part at the link in the comments.

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, praises our Hospital at Home programme, as new guiding principles are unveiled. Link in comments.

We’ve published our latest maternity services Safe Delivery of Care inspection report for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian. Link is in the comments to read the report.

We’ve published the first joint inspection report for child and adolescent mental health units in Scotland (CAMHS). The report for the Melville Inpatient Unit, NHS Lothian, was produced in conjunction with the Mental Welfare Commission. The link to the report is in the comments.