EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Government 'looking again' at isolation policy on mental health wards

Scotland's Health Secretary Humza Yousaf is telling Clyde 1 his team are "looking again" at the isolation policy on mental health wards.

It comes after we raised the concerns of a Glasgow family whose brother has has to isolate a number of times, despite never testing positive for Covid-19, and being fully vaccinated.

Lauren Boulazreg, from Dennistoun, told us regularly being away from loved ones is having a detrimental effect on her brother's recovery.

She said: "For anyone isolating it's so traumatic, and it's really lonely.

"For someone with really severe mental health problems, being alone is the last thing they need.

"I understand why the rules would be put in place where people are vulnerable, and where the risk to their physical health is greater than to their mental health."

Last week, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While we cannot comment on individual cases, where there is an outbreak in hospital, we expect essential visits to continue. This includes the care of a patient with a mental health issue, where the absence of a visitor would cause distress.”

However, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said Lauren's brother was not deemed to reach the threshold for essential visits.

Clinical advisors 'looking again' at policy

Speaking to Clyde 1 today, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has confirmed his team is "looking again" at the policy.

He said: "You can see very clearly, when the family speak, their distress at the situation, and for me, that is not a satisfactory position whatsoever.

"So I have asked, and I take clinical advice on visitation, you can imagine, that is exceptionally important for me to do, to look again at whether we've got the balance right.

"I would be expecting, as Omicron is easing, if you are in a facility that does not have an outbreak, that visitation would be taking place in a way that hopefully is very meaningful to families.

"Even when there is an outbreak, there is guidance in place, but that does not mean necessarily that visiting has to stop in its entirety.

"It's got to be left to clinical judgement, but in terms of the overarching issue that has been raised, I have asked my clinical advisors to look at this issue again".

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.