Concern over patients who go missing from hospitals

More than one patient a week goes missing from mental health hospitals in Tayside, new figures have shown.

The number for the Carseview centre in Dundee more than trebled in the 10 months up to November this year, compared to the whole of 2016.

Between 76 and 84 patients were classed as missing from the region’s psychiatric units in 2017 – including 36 people who were unaccounted for at the Carseview centre at Ninewells, compared to just 11 in the previous 12 months.

Another 17 people from the Dudhope centre – a young people’s inpatient unit (YPU) in Dundee – went missing this year, down from 35 in 2016.

Conservative MSP Bill Bowman said the figures could be linked to controversial changes in provision.

“I’d be interested to know if the spike in numbers going missing from Carseview can be attributed in part to an increase in referrals following the decision to close the Mulberry Unit at Stracathro Hospital,” he said.

An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said the health authority took its duty of care to patients very seriously and had procedures for staff to follow in the case of a missing patient.

“The data collected within NHS Tayside does not separate the categories of absent and missing,” she added.

“A person may be absent for various reasons, including a late return to hospital from a visit home or an appointment, but that episode would be included within the data in the missing persons category.

“Unless patients are being detained in a secure facility, they are free to leave and can discharge themselves at any time, even against medical advice.”