Promise of action over critical report on NHS mental health services

CARE: Members of board gather to discuss findings of investigation

A highly critical report on NHS Tayside’s mental health services has had its first public airing.

Members of Perth and Kinross’s Integration Joint Board gathered to discuss the findings from Dr David Strang’s 16-month independent inquiry into mental health services across the region earlier this month.

The board is responsible for inpatient mental health services in Tayside.

Dr Strang identified scores of changes that need to be made urgently and said a radical redesign was needed to repair a “breakdown of trust” between management, staff and the public.

Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership chief officer Gordon Paterson said NHS Tayside will take the recommendations “very seriously” and bring forward an action plan on each of the 51 points.

However, members of the IJB said it was important they did not respond in haste and that to come up with solutions straight away would not be “showing the report the respect it deserves”.

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We have a full report and we need to listen and treat it with respect.

IJB CHAIRMAN ERIC DRYSDALE

Perth and Kinross Council’s chief executive Karen Reid stressed that other important priorities for the health and social care partnership would not be neglected.

She said: “While it is really important that we co-create, it’s also really important that we still continue. We can’t have a standstill. It’s about making sure services are safe and compassionate.”

Perth and Kinross IJB chairman Councillor Eric Drysdale said: “We have a full report and we need to listen and treat it with respect.

“My role is to reflect the thoughts of all members of the board.”

The NHS Tayside board will consider the findings at its public meeting on February 27.

Dr Strang’s report, published last week, called for a “fundamental redesign” of mental health services based on a new culture of trust and respect and said the “most striking lack of governance” was the absence of a mental health strategy.

It also highlighted the need for improvements to referral systems, communication and support for junior staff and an assurance that bullying “is not tolerated anywhere in mental health services in Tayside.”

Dr Strang, a former prison inspector and chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police, launched the inquiry in September 2018 following campaigning by bereaved families.