The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Board urged to act on drug use at Carseview
Patients and staff report illegal drugs being openly delivered, sold and taken at centre
NHS Tayside has been told to tackle evidence of prolific drug use within the Carseview unit in Dundee.
The mental health inquiry found staff felt unable to control the availability of illegal drugs on the ward and lacked legal power to act. Patients and staff reported seeing drugs being openly delivered, sold and taken within Carseview.
One nurse told the inquiry the pressures of treating people with drug and alcohol issues meant people with “old school” diagnosis, such as schizophrenia, depression and bi-polar disorder, were being overlooked.
Dr David Strang’s report said NHS Tayside should “consider developing a model of integrated substance use and mental health services”.
It echoed the recommendations made by the Dundee Drugs Commission in August last year, which said the issues were intrinsically linked.
During one month in 2019 a patient was found to be supplying another patient with amphetamines; a bag of powder and tablets were found when one patient’s belongings were searched; a visitor was seen supplying drugs to a patient, and several other patients were seen smoking cannabis.
The inquiry found patients who were suspected of using drugs felt they were treated “particularly poorly” as a result.
The report states: “They felt as if they were treated as non-deserving, and that staff were quick to seek to remove them from mental health treatment.
“Some patient records confirmed unhelpful attitudes of staff towards patients with descriptions such as ‘manipulative, uncooperative and attention-seeking’.”
This made patients feel more isolated and fearful and the resultant tension would lead to arguments and fights, the report adds.
Staff reported they had been left feeling helpless and unsupported by management when they did try to tackle the issue.
“Staff were not able to control the availability of illegal drugs on the wards, nor had legal powers to so.”
The report quotes one staff nurse, who stated: “Beds are like gold dust, and are often filled with long-term drug users, people who have issues with alcohol, and people with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
“The patients I have listed above often have a great deal of needs, which probably require speciality care.
“People with ‘old school’ diagnosis such as schizophrenia, depression and bi-polar disorder get no time from us at all. They get completely overlooked because our time is demanded elsewhere.”