Mortality fall shows Scots hospital safety improving HOSPITAL safety is improving in Scotland after a significant fall in mortality levels, official figures have shown. There has been a 12.4 per cent reduction in deaths since the introduction of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme in 2008 The government claims it is the equivalent of more than 8,000 lives Aberdeen Royal Infirmary revealed today that the lives of more than 1,500 patients have been saved there since the introduction of the programme Health minister Alex Neil said it is down to a beefed-up checks programme introduced five years ago and said the country now has the "safest hospitals in the world." It comes after a difficult period for the NHS in Scotland after a scandal over fiddled waiting times and lengthy waits for patients to be seen in A and E. Across Scotland there has been a 12.4 per cent reduction in deaths since the introduction of the world-leading Scottish Patient Safety Programme in 2008. The Government claims this is the equivalent of more than 8,000 lives. Mr Neil said: "Thanks to our world-leading patient safety programme, Scotland has some of the safest hospitals in the world. It's good to hear about the measures that staff have put in place. They are small changes, but they make a big difference - and they save lives. Our NHS should be rightly proud of what has been achieved. It's because of success like this that we have decided to expand the safety programme to maternity units and mental health services. I know that there is some hard work ahead for NHS staff, but I am confident that they will rise this challenge. Mr Neil visited the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary today to hear how staff are ensuring people receiving care do not experience harm - such as infections, falls, blood clots and pressure sores. It was revealed today that the lives of more than 1,500 patients at the hospital have been saved since the introduction of the pioneering patients safety programme five years ago. Mr Neil said: "It is excellent news that Grampian is continuing to reduce hospital mortality. Thanks to our world-leading patient safety programme, Scotland has some of the safest hospitals in the world. Measures put in place as part of the national programme include a safety checklist to be completed before operations take place, more ward rounds, double-checking medicines and an early warning system for critically ill patients.