Commission publishes 14 local visit reports - 16 March 2022

The Mental Welfare Commission today published reports on its visits to 14 mental health units or wards from across Scotland, and found staff shortages to be an issue for a number of services.

The reports highlight positive and negative findings from the Commission's visits. They make recommendations for change where necessary. The Commission expects a response to each of its recommendations within three months of the reports being published.

The reports are available here:

Suzanne McGuinness, executive director (social work), Mental Welfare Commission, said:

"We undertake over 100 local visits to people being treated on wards or in units across Scotland every year, which has been disrupted to some extent due to the pandemic since 2020.

“By publishing our reports we hope to help share good practice where we find it, and call for change where services are lacking.

“One theme that recurs in a number of the reports published today is staff shortages, and difficulties in filling vacancies. On some wards this meant patients had no access to psychological services, a key element of care and treatment. We found nursing shortages too.

“I hope local services and health boards find these reports useful, and ask that they act on our recommendations.”

Notes to Editors
These local visits were undertaken using a combination of telephone contact with staff and managers prior to (and after) the visits and interviews, in person with patients where possible, and with ward staff.

The Commission has been undertaking a phased return to its visit programme following the recommendations in the Scottish Government’s route map to recovery.