Suicide victim’s niece wins fight for probe into psychiatric unit
Our family had begged for help ...they shut the door on David From yesterday’s Mail
HEALTH bosses have ordered an independent inquiry into psychiatric services after a man who was refused treatment killed himself.
David Ramsay’s family say the 50-year-old was turned away from hospital and told to do normal things such as walk the dog.
Four days later, he hanged himself with a dog lead during a walk.
His relatives have been calling for a public inquiry into services at NHS Tayside and the case was raised by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
Just over 24 hours later, John Brown, chairman of NHS Tayside, and chief executive Malcolm Wright announced an independent inquiry will be held.
Mr Brown said: ‘We are commissioning this independent assurance report into how services are delivered at Carseview [a psychiatric unit at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital] to address the concerns of families who have been speaking out about their experiences of mental health services at the centre.’
The health board will be advised by the Mental Welfare Commission. Experts will speak to Carseview patients and their families.
Mr Ramsay’s niece, Gillian Murray, 28, told Holyrood this week that her uncle had been turned away from the centre.
She said: ‘Even though he thought zombies were coming in to get us, [that] I was hypnotised by the dog, he was told to pull himself together and go and do normal things like walk the dog.
‘Well he did, because he hung himself with the dog lead.
‘That was the only advice he got. We were given no help. We were begging for help, David was asking for help. They shut the door on us and they are shutting the door on so many.’
Meanwhile, ministers have apologised after it emerged an email intended for Miss Murray was not received because it was sent to the wrong address.
Miss Murray said on Thursday that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had been wrong to claim that a response to her plea for a public inquiry had been sent by Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt last month.
Officials yesterday admitted it was sent to the wrong address.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Miss Watt has written Miss Murray to offer her sincerest apology over this matter and for the upset Miss Murray and members of David Ramsay’s family have felt as a result.’
Yesterday, Miss Sturgeon and Health Secretary Shona Robison condemned online trolls who targeted Miss Murray for speaking out and criticising the SNP.
She had said she had resigned from the party after her plea for action was ignored.
Last night, Miss Murray said: ‘It is quite sad that it took us going to parliament and for me to be slated and made out to look like a liar to get the apology.
‘The responses were vile. I was called every name under the sun. [Some] said I should hang myself in shame, [asked] what did we do for David – that it was our fault.
‘I was sobbing on the floor most of the night. I was vomiting this morning because of the stress.’ Yesterday, Miss Robison tweeted: ‘Gillian Murray and her family have every right to raise concerns and shouldn’t be criticised.’
Miss Sturgeon added: ‘Patients and their families should never be criticised for raising issues or concerns about the NHS.’
Mr Leonard said the inquiry was ‘a welcome step’ but added: ‘It should not have taken years of campaigning by bereaved families – and a tragedy being raised at First Minister’s Questions – to deliver this limited review’.
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