Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fears more suicides will happen before any changes put in place
CAMPAIGNERS say a damning review into Tayside’s mental health proves the region is “falling far short”of what is needed.
Fears have also been raised that more preventable suicides will happen before effective measures are put in place to try and prevent them.
A report by Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) found “significant concerns” with adult mental health community services, which are managed by NHS Tayside and health and social care partnerships.
It is the latest blow for the services’ reputation following a string of damaging claims and reports in recent years.
HIS raised questions over the area’s crisis resolution service, and claimed there were inconsistencies in access to treatment depending on where people lived.
Phil Welsh, who has been campaigning for a 24/7 crisis centre since his son Lee took his own life in 2017, said: “The review, specifically in regard to immediate crisis support, still leaves the region far short of what is needed – namely a non-referral 24-hour crisis centre.
“What is offered in the report exemplifies that no real change will be forthcoming.
“While the review goes on to acknowledge the partnerships and NHS Tayside recognise that they are struggling to provide the appropriate levels and quality of crisis response, what is really alarming is the vagueness and empty gesture that ‘steps are being taken to address this’.
“The public has a right to understand what steps will actually be taken.
“This review does nothing to assure the people of Tayside that mental health provision will change.
“Will we as a region suffer more preventable suicides until these steps are put in place?”
Mental health campaigner Gillian Murray, whose uncle, David Ramsay killed himself after being refused treatment at Carseview Centre, said the report highlighted the “same old rubbish”.
She said: “Given Health Improvement Scotland undertook multiple reports and investigations that proved worthless – hence the need for a truly independent inquiry – I have little
RECOMMENDATIONS
Implement formal senior mentoring and supervision to ensure locum psychiatrists are monitored and supported to deliver safe and high-quality clinical practice.
Put job plans in place for locum psychiatrists to support this group of doctors in order to give clear guidance of what is expected in the role and to outline the minimum standard of practice
expected. faith in the substance or impartiality of their reports.
“Thankfully David Strang will be returning early next year to see which, if any, of his recommendations have been implemented.
“That will be a report worth reading.”
Richard Peter-Tenant, who formed Dundee men’s mental health charity Walk and Blether , said he supported any effort to improve mental health services in Tayside.
Richard said: “It’s at least encouraging that a further review has been carried out into what is
Take steps to reduce the current inequity of service provision across all three partnership areas.
Review its referral and acceptance standards for primary and secondary community adult mental health services, to ensure that there are clear pathways for people to access care and to support equity of access to care across Tayside.
Ensure that it has clear governance and oversight of all of the cases currently open to the available in Tayside. I am a strong supporter of a 24-hour mental health crisis centre for Dundee.
“One was needed before but I think it is going to be even more necessary as we begin to come out of this situation.”
Richard added: “If this report is listened to, along with the recommendations made in the Strang Report then maybe we can go some way to resolving Dundee’s mental health crisis.”
HIS also criticised the reliance on temporary staff, which the organisation claimed was unsustainable in the long-term.
And the organisation has recommended the health board and partnerships address these issues urgently.
However, the report did acknowledge that Tayside was not the only board facing these challenges, and that it was a nationwide problem.
It also praised the commitment and dedication of staff, in the face of a number of challenges outwith their control.