Wedderburn House facility left without psychiatrists

Service users should be reassured that there are three psychiatrists supported by nursing staff running additional weekend clinics at other sites in Dundee to help ensure all patients requiring review have access to help

There are no psychiatrists working at a Dundee mental health facility after two doctors left suddenly.

NHS Tayside confirmed the final two psychiatrists working at Wedderburn House, who were at the Edward Street facility on a locum basis, have recently left.

The health board blamed a “national shortage” of consultant psychiatrists.

A spokesperson for Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership said: “We are actively recruiting to our consultant vacancies, but there are currently no dedicated psychiatrists working from Wedderburn House following the recent departure of locum psychiatrists.

“However, service users should be reassured that there are three psychiatrists supported by nursing staff running additional weekend clinics at other sites in Dundee to help ensure that all patients requiring review have access to help.

“The other disciplines within our community mental health teams are fully staffed and continue to work together to provide holistic care and treatment for our patients and service users.”

Wedderburn House has been for sale since early 2018.

NHS Tayside recently rejected a bid by Dundee charity Yusuf Youth Initiative to buy the building through community asset transfer.

The charity offered £50,000 but health bosses decided the social value of the charity’s work is not enough to justify such a big discount on the property, which is for sale valued at £340,000.