The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Chief backs refusal to halt mental health move
NHS Tayside chiefs have defended their decision not to comply with the findings of a highly critical mental health study.
Dr David Strang, who led an independent inquiry into local psychiatric services, made the sole recommendation to halt a controversial move to centralise facilities at Dundee.
He said NHS Tayside should first carry out a wider, more comprehensive review of the local health system.
Chief executive Grant Archibald was quizzed about the decision not to follow Dr Strang’s advice at a parliamentary hearing in Perth.
The Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee’s Tory MSP
Brian Whittle asked why Dr Strang’s recommendation had not been accepted and Mr Archibald said: “For us, this was not an either/or situation.
“Dr Strang said we should look at the whole system and not just that one part of it and in my view, we were looking at the whole system, with the creation of the Mental Health Care Alliance.
“But that review is going to take time and our concern was that in the interim, could we afford not to do something with the inpatient decisions that had been made previously been made?”
Mr Whittle told Mr Archibald: “We had taken evidence from the public and they have told us that a shortage of psychiatrists is leading to a lack of continuity of care, with far too many locums. The public feel you are not listening or consulting with them.
“It was felt there was a lack of consultation with the psychiatrist unit as to the way forward and, more worryingly, they felt there would be repercussions against them if they raised any issues. The word ‘bullying’ was used.”
Mr Archibald said: “I’m disappointed that people don’t feel they are being consulted.
“You used the phrase ‘bullying’ which I had hoped would not be raised here.
“We have always made sure we work fairly with our staff, and if there is any evidence of bullying then people can write directly to me and I will address them.”