NHS Tayside orders review of mental health services after pressure at Hollyrood
An independent review will be carried out into services at Carseview psychiatric unit in Dundee.
NHS bosses have ordered an independent inquiry into a psychiatric unit after the case of a man who killed himself after being refused treatment was highlighted at Holyrood.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard had pressed Nicola Sturgeon about the care provided by the Carseview centre at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.
Mr Leonard challenged her on the issue after David Ramsay, 50, took his own life in 2016, four days after he was twice rejected for treatment at the unit.
His family has been campaigning for a public inquiry into services at NHS Tayside following his death.
Just over 24 hours after the case was raised at First Minister's Questions, John Brown, chairman of NHS Tayside, and chief executive Malcolm Wright announced an independent inquiry will be held into mental health services.
Mr Brown said: "The chief executive and I are commissioning this independent assurance report into how services are delivered at Carseview to address the concerns of some families who have been speaking out about their experiences of mental health services at the centre.''
The health board will take advice from the Mental Welfare Commission on which experts should be tasked with carrying out the work.
As part of the review, they will speak to patients at the centre and their families.
Mr Brown said: "Our aim is that this report will not only give the board robust independent assurance that the recommendations of the recent Health Improvement Scotland and Mental Welfare Commission inspection reports are being implemented, but will also provide an opportunity to capture the concerns of the patients and families who use the services.
"If the report highlights any areas for improvement, or flags up issues where we can learn lessons, we will make any changes required immediately.''
Mr Wright stated: It's really important that people have confidence in our services and are reassured that they will receive the highest standards of care in the most appropriate place when they need it.
"There has been a lot of work undertaken over the past couple of years to redesign mental health services across Tayside to adapt to the changing needs of our populations and it is important that this redesign work continues at pace.
"This external assurance report we are announcing today will look at the progress which has already been made at Carseview and allow the board to ensure that the actions we are taking now will deliver the best outcomes for patients and their families in the future.
"We know that all staff at the centre work extremely hard every day to deliver the best possible care and I want them to know that they have our commitment that we will make sure that we are supporting them to be able to provide safe and effective care.'