The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Health chiefs to continue psychiatric programme
Board members reject calls to delay plans for shake-up to allow for wider review into services
Health chiefs have refused to halt a controversial shake-up of psychiatric services in Tayside, despite a plea for a “fundamental redesign”.
Dr David Strang, who is finalising his exhaustive study of local mental health services, has spoken of his frustration that his call for a wider, more comprehensive review has not been heeded.
He was appointed to lead an independent inquiry after pressure from families who claimed their loved ones had killed themselves over issues at Carseview.
Dr Strang, a former prison inspector, said in an interim report released in May that proposals to centralise services at the Dundee unit should not go ahead before a wider review is carried out.
He told members of the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board: “It’s been four months now and I haven’t seen a redesign transformation programme.
“I was saying this back in May, but it now looks like I’m going to have to say it again in the final report.
“I thought that publishing a summary would allow the joint board and NHS Tayside to start addressing the issue.
“It is disappointing. This was the only recommendation in the whole report, because I thought it was urgently needed.”
However, board members agreed not to pause the programme.
During a marathon six-hour session, chief officer Gordon Paterson said a “comprehensive end-to-end strategy” would be delivered by the recently established Mental Health Alliance.
“However, that is something that is being actively pursued,” he said.
“Dundee, Angus and Perth are all developing and delivering community health strategies.”
He added pausing the Carseview programme would lead to “significant risks”, including jeopardising doctors’ training schemes and ending the Ligature Anchor Point reduction programme.
Dr Paterson said: “It is essential that we develop a wider mental health strategy, but to do that we do not need to suspend the current programme.
“The continuation of the current redesign programme is necessary to mitigate clinical risks that currently compromise patient safety, as well as the sustainability of service delivery.”
He went on: “I recognise that the redesign programme did not garner universal support and I recognise that there are people who are concerned that some of the services provided in Perth and Dundee may not be continued to be provided there.
“But with available workforce and the demand for beds, we need to develop centres for excellence and expertise in those two cities.”
Susan Scott, of mental health charity Plus Perth, said she was disappointed with the outcome but described the marathon meeting as an “education and a very significant eye-opener”.