R26 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Wound documentation

Recommendation

Health Boards should ensure that where a patient has a wound or pressure damage there is clear documentation of the nature of the wound or damage in accordance with best practice guidance.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the Scottish Government, this recommendation was accepted, citing professional standards for record-keeping, including the revised NMC code and GMC requirements, which mandate clear and accurate documentation. According to Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Excellence in Care CAIR Dashboard, wound documentation standards are monitored as part of fundamentals of care metrics, and national wound care guidance is available; furthermore, according to the available evidence, no further published evidence has been identified since 2025.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.gov.scot, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Scottish Government
18 Jun 2015

Section 4.2 of the Scottish Government's response addresses this through professional standards for record-keeping. The revised NMC code requires nurses to maintain clear and accurate records, completing them as soon as possible after an event and identifying any risks or problems and the steps taken to deal with them. The GMC similarly requires doctors to keep clear, accurate, and legible records of concerns and actions. Additionally, Section 4.1 notes that Healthcare Improvement Scotland published a Best Practice Statement - Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers in 2009, which would inform best practice guidance for documentation.

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Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Good Progress
01 Jan 2025
Healthcare Improvement Scotland Other

Excellence in Care CAIR Dashboard monitors wound documentation standards as part of fundamentals of care metrics. National wound care guidance available.

View detailed findings

Wound documentation addressed through national nursing quality framework.

Excellence in Care CAIR Dashboard View Source
Source
Report The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report 24 Nov 2014
Responsible Bodies
NHS Health Boards (Scotland) Primary
Recommendation age 11.3 yrs
Last formal update 3932 days ago