Dad seeks answers after son’s suicide

A DUNDEE pensioner fears he will die before he knows why his son took his own life.

David Ramsay was found dead at the city’s Templeton Woods on October 9 last year.

Before he died, the 50-year-old had been in the throes of a mental break down which led to psychosis.

After harming himself and attempting to take his own life by overdosing, David’s family convinced him to seek help from his doctor.

David’s GP then contacted NHS Tayside’s Carseview Centre by emergency referral with a view to him being seen by mental health staff.

But David’s dad, David Ramsay Sr, claims the medics decided against admitting his son — and his body was discovered four days later.

A year on, speaking publicly for the first time since his son’s death, Mr Ramsay said he was “in limbo” over the circumstances.

He also believes his son might still be alive if he had been admitted to one of the wards at Carseview.

The 79-year-old, of St Mary’s, says that NHS Tayside officials have refused to include him in discussions about David’s death due to him not being listed as his son’s next of kin — despite claiming his son’s family are happy for him to be involved.

Mr Ramsay says he fears he’ll go to the grave without getting answers over what happened to his son and why he wasn’t given the treatment he felt he needed.

He said: “All I want to know is what happened — but they told me because I wasn’t listed as his next of kin I wasn’t entitled to any information.

“It’s my son that we are talking about.”

In the aftermath of David’s death, the family met NHS Tayside chiefs and a local adverse event review took place.

Mr Ramsay, who is now being represented by solicitor Danny Devine, of Myles Muir and Laverty, said he was kept in the dark about its progress and findings — and is now pushing for a fatal accident inquiry to be held.

Mr Devine told the Tele: “I contacted NHS Tayside as I believed my client should be involved in the process surrounding the death of his son. I did not agree with the response from the health board.

“My client is struggling to cope with the death of his son and his treatment from NHS Tayside is aggrieving his ongoing sorrow.”

An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate to comment.

David Ramsay Sr, who says he wants to be involved in discussions about his son’s death.