12/05/2025
The Trust has welcomed the recent publication of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority’s (RQIA) report of its unannounced inspection visit to South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in March 2025.
SWAH ICU is part of the Critical Care Network for Northern Ireland and provides critical care and support for those patients who are extremely ill requiring intense medical and nursing interventions.
The inspection focused on five key themes: infection prevention control and environmental safety; procedure for obtaining blood cultures, enteral feeding; local governance systems and processes and the management of patient linen.
No formal areas for improvement were identified by RQIA inspectors.
Inspectors observed ‘a calm, spacious environment in excellent decorative order, with environmental cleanliness maintained to a high standard and good hand hygiene’. Overall inspectors found ‘robust measures in place to ensure staff had appropriate training and good knowledge of taking of blood cultures and good governance in place’.
Inspectors also found a positive culture of quality improvement in the development of a relative’s locker area and that staff reflected positively on the good working relationships with members of the multidisciplinary team and good support from senior management which contributed to a safe and comfortable working environment and a high standard of care for patients.
Professor Ronan O’Hare, Deputy Medical Director for the Western Trust said: “We are extremely pleased with the positive findings of this RQIA Report. The feedback is very complementary to our staff and the environment, providing a high quality and safe standard of care to our patients in the SWAH ICU.
“This excellent report could not been achieved without the commitment and dedication of all our Clinical and Nursing staff in ICU, supported by our AHPs, Infection Prevention and Control, support and estate colleagues. This RQIA report is something we are very proud of.”
Carol Reid, Assistant Director of Nursing added: “I wish to pay tribute to all staff involved in this positive RQIA report. Our staff in SWAH ICU are incredibly dedicated not only to providing evidence based care to their patients but also providing a vital supportive and compassionate role to families especially at a particularly difficult time in their lives.
“I am delighted but not surprised that RQIA inspectors have no formal areas for improvements as they have witnessed first-hand the hard work of the entire multi- disciplinary team.”