Caithness General Hospital in Wick - No Inspection For Almost 10 Years
27th October 2025
According to freedom-of-information type data analysed by the Scottish Conservatives, 36 hospitals across Scotland have never been inspected by HIS.
A further 29 hospitals have not been inspected in the past five years.
In the Highlands region, only 1 out of 25 hospitals was inspected in the last five years.
For example, Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin had no inspection for six years.
Similarly, Caithness General Hospital in Wick has gone almost a decade without inspection (last in October 2016).
HIS's predecessor body, the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI), had a standard of at least one inspection every three years for acute hospitals.
HIS states that "every acute hospital in Scotland" is inspected at least every three years, and more often if required.
However, HIS also acknowledges that they apply a risk-based prioritisation model: some smaller or lower-risk hospitals are inspected less frequently.
"Hospitals that haven't been inspected in the last 5 years are smaller community or acute hospitals where available data and intelligence placed these sites at a lower risk rating."
Why the shortfall is considered concerning
Inspection is a key mechanism to provide independent assurance that hospitals are safe, delivering effective care, and meeting quality standards. Lack of inspection means less external oversight.
Rural and remote hospitals are disproportionately affected. Many of the hospitals never inspected or not inspected for many years are in remote areas.
MSPs and opposition parties have described the situation as "deeply concerning" for patient safety.
"The fact that over half of hospitals across Scotland haven't been inspected in five years is gravely concerning."
HIS explains that inspection capacity is limited, hence they use data and intelligence to prioritise higher-risk hospitals, meaning lower-risk sites may go longer without inspection.
They argue that the inspection model has evolved to cover a "complex and comprehensive range of factors that impact on safety and quality of care", not just basic compliance.
Northern Scot
For example, their planned programme for April 2024-March 2025 indicated "intended 11 hospital inspections ... between April 2024 and March 2025"
PHOTO
Caithness General
Photographer J Thomas via Wikipedia and Geograph
