The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Alarming figures’ spark review call
The worrying rise in assaults at Murray Royal Hospital has put pressure on health bosses to ensure all is being done to keep staff as safe as possible.
Local politicians have called for NHS Tayside to review procedures to determine if staff are fully equipped for day-to-day challenges.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith said: “These are alarming figures which highlight the difficult conditions many health professionals at Murray Royal are working under.
“The increasing use of drugs like Spice is clearly resulting in more in-patients with complex behavioural needs that staff are unprepared for.
“NHS Tayside must do more to ensure that staff are equipped with the skills to deal with difficult patients.”
She added: “No one should start their shift with the looming threat of physical assault and staff clearly need more support.
“Murray Royal was designed as a state-of-the-art facility and one that should meet the challenging needs of mental health patients and it would concern me if it was already in need of upgrading.”
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, added: “This is a concerning rise in assaults and we must ensure that NHS staff are fully equipped to deal with the challenges they are faced with.
“It is particularly alarming to hear that synthetic drugs are allegedly playing a role in the increase in assaults and I have written to NHS Tayside seeking assurances everything possible is being done to ensure staff and patients alike are in the safest possible environment.”
Police Scotland said that new psychoactive substance drugs continue to be a challenge for the force, despite the ban.
Aspokesmanalsoconfirmedthatcrystal meth, which is made in illegal labs across America, had arrived in Tayside.
He said: “Police Scotland do not believe there is a widespread issue regarding the use of crystal meth in Tayside, however there is no room for complacency and any drug misuse is a concern to us.”