HEI ward closure powers
Vale of Leven Inquiry · The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report · Issued 24 November 2014 · Addressed to: Scottish Government
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
Scottish Government should ensure that the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) has the power to close a ward to new admissions if the HEI concludes that there is a real risk to the safety of patients.
Vale of Leven Inquiry, The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report · 24 Nov 2014 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), established on 1 April 2011 under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, absorbed the functions of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI). HIS has the power to direct a Health Board to close a ward to new admissions where there is a serious risk to the life, health or wellbeing of persons (HIS Operating Framework, Scottish Government).
- HIS conducts both announced and unannounced inspections of healthcare facilities, including assessment of infection prevention and control standards. The Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Inspections) Regulations 2011 provide the statutory basis for these inspection powers.
- The revised Healthcare Associated Infection Standards, published by HIS in February 2015, provide the framework against which HIS assesses compliance, with escalation powers including ward closure available where serious risks are identified.
- This recommendation has been implemented: HIS has the statutory power to close wards to new admissions where patient safety is at risk.
Response — verbatim from government
●Scottish Government
Section 2.1 of the Scottish Government's response describes the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) as providing independent and rigorous scrutiny and assurance of NHS Scotland hospitals. The HEI carries out inspections and issues 'requirements' for action to comply with national HAI standards, and also makes 'recommendations'. However, the text does not state that the HEI has the power to close a ward to new admissions, nor does it indicate that this specific recommendation has been implemented.
Scottish Government · 18 Jun 2015 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 1 Jan 2024 · Healthcare Improvement Scotland Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) has had power to close wards to admissions since April 2009. Over 200 inspections conducted since inception, at least 30 annually, mostly unannounced. View source → Confirmed Completed
- 1 Mar 2015 · Scottish Government Scottish Government accepted all 75 recommendations. Implementation Group established February 2015, chaired by Chief Nursing Officer. Reference Group established with patient and family representatives to support and challenge implementation. View source → Reasonable Progress
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.