Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Family can never forgive NHS Tayside over death of David
THE niece of a man who took his own life after being turned away from Carseview said she could never forgive NHS Tayside.
Gillian Murray was speaking following publication of the independent i nquiry i nto mental health services in Tayside.
She also called for NHS Tayside to publicly apologise to bereaved families.
The final report, Trust and Respect, was published earlier today.
It contains 51 recommendations to improve mental health care in Tayside. It also states that a “radical new approach” is needed in mental health services in Tayside.
It highlights numerous failings, including a breakdown of trust, not delivering services, lack of psychiatrists, lack of leadership and lack of accountability.
Ms Murray’s uncle David Ramsay, 50, took his own life in Templeton Woods in 2016.
He had presented at Dundee’s Carseview Centre on October 5 2016 seeking help with his mental health problems.
Staff instead sent him home, suggesting he walk his dog. He was found dead four days later.
Gillian said: “The past three and a half years have been hell.
“Quite honestly, it has nearly killed me. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and I am now a broken person because fighting for the truth, fighting for answers and being met with hostility by the health board has been soul destroying. The first thing that struck me about the report was the title: Trust and Respect.
“My experience and my family’s experience with NHS Tayside following David’s death has been a complete lack of respect and honesty. The irony is, if NHS Tayside had been honest to us following David’s death then I would not have campaigned for answers, I would not have campaigned to parliament, there would be no inquiry and this report would not exist.”
Gillian said that she was very angry that despite reviews and FAIs the same failings had been allowed to happen again and again, destroying lives and families. She said: “There has been a complete failure by NHS Tayside to take responsibility and the defensiveness by the health board has been quite frankly, disgusting. Everything has been a PR exercise about protecting their reputation instead of actually fixing the problems.”
She added: “I can never forgive the health board for the way in which my family and I were treated following David’s death but I do hope they will never treat another bereaved family in the same manner we were.” Gillian said: “This report is hopefully a turning point for NHS Tayside but empty words and platitudes mean nothing without real change.
“If NHS Tayside want to rebuild trust and demonstrate that they are serious about making changes then they should publicly apologise to the bereaved families, the patients who have been failed, the staff who were ignored and all of those whose lives are forever shattered due to their failings.
“There has been a culture of denial by NHS Tayside and a sheer lack of leadership and accountability. Ultimately, nobody knew what they were doing.
“It is, therefore, no wonder that the public has no confidence in NHS Tayside. As the report outlines, a radical new approach is needed and urgently.”
Gillian added: “It is a good sign that the Scottish Government has finally announced ‘special measures’ to support the changes that are needed throughout mental health services in Tayside but it does anger me that this situation was allowed to escalate to the crisis we are now in. I hope this is a turning point for NHS Tayside but I can assure you, if changes are not made and the status quo remains, I will never be silent.
“I cannot and will not sit back and watch the most vulnerable in society being failed.”
Responding to the report of the Independent Inquiry into Mental Health Services in Tayside, NHS Tayside Chair Mrs Lorna BirseStewart said: “As Chair of NHS Tayside I welcome today’s report from the Independent Inquiry. The Board views the recommendations as an opportunity to embrace a fresh approach to the design and delivery of mental health services across Tayside.
“The involvement of staff, users of our mental health services, communities and partner organisations is critical to build on the improvement work which is already under way in mental health services. The Board of NHS Tayside is making a clear commitment today to ensure better engagement with all stakeholders in helping shape the delivery of mental health services.”
Grant Archibald, Chief Executive, NHS Tayside said, “The publication of today’s report delivers a challenging set of recommendations for mental health services across Tayside, which are based on the lived experiences of a wide range of people and extensive evidence provided to the Inquiry team.
Inquiry chairman Dr Strang said: “Over 1500 people contributed to the inquiry’s work. Their evidence has been central to the findings and recommendations which we have published today.
“The report’s title – “Trust and Respect” – reflects the main conclusions of the inquiry - that there has been a loss of trust in mental health services in Tayside. Trust needs to be rebuilt by treating everyone with respect. The active involvement of staff, patients, communities and partner organisations will be essential to building a new culture and approach to delivering services and treating patients in Tayside.”