Report finds Tayside's mental health services need 'radical' and 'urgent' changes

A radical new approach within NHS Tayside's mental health services is urgently needed.

That's one of over 50 findings from an 18 month independent inquiry.

It also found the health board is perceived as caring more about reputation than the interests of patients.

The Independent inquiry chaired by Dr David Strang, was launched in 2018, and took evidence from 1,500 people.

He said: "The report’s title – 'Trust and Respect' – reflects the main conclusions of the Inquiry - that there has been a loss of trust in mental health services in Tayside.

"Trust needs to be rebuilt by treating everyone with respect.

"The active involvement of staff, patients, communities and partner organisations will be essential to building a new culture and approach to delivering services and treating patients in Tayside."

What does the report say?

51 recommendations have been put forward.

These include an urgent whole-system review with a radical new approach.

It calls on the health board to admit errors and apologise for errors.

Staff see failure of organisation to take responsibility and a lack of transparency.

It also found the health board is perceived as caring more about reputation than the interests of patients with a fear of blame culture among staff.

What are the recommendations?

There are several areas which the report recommends focuses on; Governance and leadership, community and crisis services, Inpatient services, child and adolescent mental health services, and staff.

Here are some of the proposals for NHS Tayside to take on board:

• New culture of working built on collaboration, trust and respect
• Reinstating a home treatment service in Angus for those at crisis point
• Involve families and carers in end-to-end care planning
• Improve staffing levels
• Ensure bullying and harassment of staff is not tolerated

What do campaigners and families say?

Mandy Mclaren's son Dale took his own life in 2015 after leaving Dundee's Carseview Centre.

She said: "We knew there were failings, we knew the system wasn't working properly and we know they were making mistakes but just wouldn't admit them.

"If they don't do these recommendations there's going to be more deaths and more families that are destroyed because of that."

What next for the health board?

NHS Tayside says it welcomes the findings and will consider them at a public meeting later this month.

It's being urged to create an action plan to address the report's findings by June 1 2020.

NHS Tayside Chair Mrs Lorna Birse-Stewart said: ."It is important that those living with mental ill health, their families and carers, and our staff, know that the underpinning themes of the Inquiry report – Trust and Respect – will run through every aspect of our future plans."

Grant Archibald, Chief Executive, NHS Tayside said, “The publication of today’s report delivers a challenging set of recommendations for mental health services across Tayside, which are based on the lived experiences of a wide range of people and extensive evidence provided to the Inquiry team."

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