Highest number of mental health stays in hospitals recorded

Tayside and Fife units saw an increase over the last 12 months

Tayside and Fife mental health units recorded the highest number of inpatient stays last year, latest figures have shown.

In both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric cases, NHS Fife had a 4.4% increase in the last 12 months, from 2,270 to 2,370.

In Tayside, there was a 12.8% increase in stays compared to the previous financial year, with a 15.5% increase in stays recorded in the last decade.

The number of people being re-admitted to mental health facilities within 28 days of discharge has dropped in Tayside, from a high of 16.7% in 2015-16 to only 9.7% this last year.

In Fife, 16.4% of mental health patients were re-admitted within 28 days. This was down on the year 2017-18, when the total hit a decade high. NHS Tayside did not address the changing figures when asked to comment by The Courier.

A spokeswoman said: “Inpatient mental health services in Tayside are provided across a number of wards and sites. As well as general adult psychiatry services, there are centres which specialise in psychiatry of old age for Tayside patients and two specialist regional inpatient centres which admit patients from across the north of Scotland.”

NHS Fife was also asked for comment. Meanwhile, MSPs have been told young people must be given frequent access to mental health care provision while under detention.

Nick Hobbs, the head of advice and investigations for the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, made the comments as Holyrood’s justice committee heard evidence on secure care places for children.

The committee inquiry follows the deaths of 21-year-old Katie Allan and 16-year-old William Lindsay while they were being detained at Polmont Young Offenders Institution.

Ms Allan’s parents launched a campaign to call for changes on how the legal system deals with mental health.

Speaking at the committee yesterday, Mr Hobbs said decisions around the detention of young people should consider their wellbeing.

And he said the commissioner backed recommendations that children should not be detained at Polmont.

“Inpatient mental health services in Tayside are provided across a number of wards and sites. NHS TAYSIDE SPOKESWOMAN