Families have fought hard for their truth

The decision by the Scottish Parliament to make provisions for a full public inquiry into NHS Tayside mental health services is a positive step forward for campaigners. Let us hope it does not prove necessary. The option will only come into play if Tayside’s own investigation is deemed to have fallen short.

The Lost Souls of Dundee group believes at least 10 suicides could have been prevented if better support had been available to their loved ones at the Carseview unit in Dundee.

Families, some of whom have been fighting for answers for years, say they do not have confidence in NHS Tayside’s ability to get to the heart of what went wrong.

They fear a whitewash and say they are counting on ministers to hold the health board to a statutory inquiry if its review is not sufficiently impartial and independent.

The ball is in NHS Tayside’s court now – and the country is watching.

That the investigation is now liable to such scrutiny is largely down to the efforts of bereaved families, whose lives have been torn apart in the most shocking and heartbreaking ways.

They have shown extraordinary strength and courage in bringing the circumstances of their loved ones’ deaths into the spotlight.

They deserve nothing less than the whole truth.