Consultation opens on the future of mental health services

Controversial plans would see one existing centre close

NHS Tayside has put its proposals for the future of mental health and learning disability services to Perth and Kinross organisations for the first time.

The health board is looking to overhaul its provision with the likelihood that one of its three existing centres will close.

Its preferred option would involve centralising all general adult psychiatry acute services at the Carseview centre in Dundee and inpatient and learning disability services at Murray Royal Hospital.

That would result in the closure of the Moredun ward at Murray Royal and the Mulberry ward at Stracathro Hospital near Brechin.

The proposals have proved controversial but NHS Tayside believes they are critical to the future delivery of high standards of care.

Like health boards across the country, it is facing a critical shortage of specialist staff and senior managers have raised concerns over whether services can continue to be operated safely from three sites.

The first Perth and Kinross consultation event took place at the Dewars Centre yesterday at which mental health charities and organisations had the chance to highlight the work they do in the community.

They included PKAVS, PLUS Perth, Perth Autism Support and Saints in the Community.

Also attending were representatives of Perth and Kinross Labour Group who are opposed to the “centralisation” of health services in Dundee.

Led by chairwoman Tricia Duncan – who spoke to shoppers on Perth High Street at the weekend – they called for the NHS to take a different approach and stop what they see as the continued downgrading of Murray Royal and Perth Royal Infirmary.

Over the next two weeks, consultation events will also be held in Crieff, Auchterarder, Pitlochry, Blairgowrie and Kinross to enable the health board to engage with service users, carers, staff and members of the public.

All views will be fed into the review, with a report then presented to the NHS Tayside Board and its partners.

A final decision on mental health and learning disability provision is expected by the end of January.

NHS Tayside’s Keith Russell said the board was happy to hear all views during the course of the consultation.

“The consultation events give us an opportunity to explain why we are consulting on our “best options” and hear from the people who use our services.

“The consultation and its outcome are absolutely critical for the future delivery of safe and sustainable services in mental health and learning disability care.”

The consultation and its outcome are absolutely critical for the future delivery of safe and sustainable services in mental health and learning disability care. KEITH RUSSELL

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. At the Dewars Centre are Iain Smith, funding and marketing manager with St Johnstone Community Trust, and Amulree Welch, learning coordinator for Perth Online.