Commission publishes new local visit reports - 17 August 2022

The Mental Welfare Commission today publishes 13 new reports on NHS hospital wards in Scotland

Every year the Mental Welfare Commission visits around 100 wards and units for people with mental ill health, learning disability, dementia or related conditions in Scotland, talking to patients, relatives and staff, and examining records. A report is published after each visit.

Today’s reports cover 13 of those visits, highlighting positive findings, aspects of care and treatment where we think the service could do better and making recommendations for change where necessary.

Claire Lamza, executive director (nursing), Mental Welfare Commission, said:

“While many of today’s reports include very positive comments about staff, they also give an insight into the pressures caused by staff vacancies. The consequent over-reliance on agency or bank staff, particularly in nursing, is evident. 

“We understand the pressure this puts on everyone working on these busy wards, and the lack of continuity it can bring to patients. We will continue to raise concerns about staff vacancies wherever we see them, while recognising the extraordinary effort being made by those working in these circumstances.

“We also found the environment and facilities on some wards to be lacking, and not conducive to positive care and treatment.”

The reports are for:

The Commission expects a response to each of its recommendations within three months of the reports being published.