Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘No one in need is turned away’
FOLLOWING repeated criticism of the Carseview psychiatric unit in Dundee, NHS Tayside’s associate medical director for mental health and learning disabilities Dr Neil Prentice speaks exclusively to the Tele about mental health services in the region. adult psychiatry (GAP) beds available to patients across Tayside has not changed.
“As you’d expect, the number of patients admitted for mental health treatment in Tayside varies depending on the care requirements of individual patients.” THE rate of people admitted in Tayside is significantly higher than the national average — what is being done to try to prevent readmissions?
“We’re continually reviewing our readmission rate on an ongoing basis. Patients being treated for mental health issues may require multiple admissions and people can be readmitted to hospital for a number of reasons, such as respite care or a relapse in their condition.”
HOW much pressure is being put on mental health services in Carseview due to the Mulberry Ward and the out-of-hours crisis response assessment provided i n Murray Royal Hospital having moved to the Carseview Centre?
“Interim contingency arrangements were introduced in Tayside in February 2017 due to a shortage of junior doctors in adult mental health services. As part of those
Dr Prentice arrangements, Mulberry Ward was transferred in its entirety with its own staff keeping the same levels of staffing and ensuring the same staff were caring for patients from Mulberry.” HAVE there been any instances of people being turned away because of a lack of resources?
“Any patient who, following a full psychiatric assessment, requires a period of inpatient assessment/treatment will be admitted to hospital. No patients assessed as being in this category have been turned away.” IS there a shortage of beds at the unit?
“The number of general
“NHS Tayside has an active recruitment process for consultant psychiatrists, which is looking at recruitment from within the UK and abroad.”
“We also maximise recruitment through identifying appropriate opportunities to use social media and targeting of potential candidates from across the globe.
“While this process is ongoing, we have ensured continuity of medical care within mental health services by employing suitably trained locum consultants.”