Staff and patients felt ‘unsafe’ at hospital

Workers and patients at a mental illness hospital have told of feeling “unsafe” in a report which raises fears over under-staffing.

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland made the findings during an unannounced visit to Ayr Clinic in South Ayrshire. The independent hospital cares for patients with a primary diagnosis of mental illness, personality disorder and learning disabilities.

Five out of the nine patients spoken to in its Arran ward told inspectors they felt unsafe, according to the report. Another spoke of damage to their mental health caused by the noisy and unsettled atmosphere when patients were being restrained. Two out of four staff spoken to said they felt unsafe, citing low employee numbers, high levels of restraint and a poor response from other wards when the alarm was set off. The report also found a lack of de-escalation space - one room was also used as a visitor and meeting room - and raised concerns about staff ’s ability to restrain patients safely.

It said: “This was discussed with the manager of the Ayr Clinic during the visit and raised with the medical director at the end of the day meeting.

“They agreed to look into these concerns with immediate effect.”