Mental health team cleared by SPSO

Complaint handlers have found claims local health professionals failed to treat a patient reporting problems with their mental health appropriately to be unfounded.

The patient told the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) they felt they were not properly assessed by a community mental health team run by the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership and received substandard support from staff.

The patient also claimed staff acted unreasonably when they removed them from a waiting list for dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) - a kind of cognitive behaviour therapy used to change negative thinking and encourage positive behavioural changes.

However, the SPSO has since concluded the partnership and its staff acted reasonably throughout the patient’s treatment and decided not to uphold a single one complaint after examining the case in detail.

The ombudsman’s decision report, which refers to the patient only as C, said:“C complained about the treatment and support provided by a community mental health team run by the partnership.

“C said that they were not reasonably assessed by appropriate clinicians and that the partnership failed to provide them with a reasonable diagnosis or treatment.

“C said that their care was mainly provided by a community mental health nurse whom C did not consider to be appropriately positioned to offer diagnosis or treatment. In addition, C considered that it was unreasonable that they were removed from the list while they awaited an appointment for dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).

“We took independent advice from an appropriately qualified adviser. C’s first complaint related to their diagnosis. While there was a time management issue relating to one of the appointments, the partnership’s actions in relation to providing a diagnosis for C was reasonable and in a reasonable timescale. As such, we did not uphold this complaint.

“C’s second complaint related to the treatment they received. While there was a communication issue in relation to a referral for C, overall the treatment provided by the partnership was reasonable. We did not uphold this complaint.

“C’s final complaint related to the support the partnership provided to them. We found that the support provided was reasonable while they were being seen by a community mental health nurse. C had also been provided with access to a helpline while they awaited further therapy treatment.

“As such we did not uphold this complaint.”