New reports on mental health wards and units across Scotland – positive on staff; calls for more patient involvement and activity

The Mental Welfare Commission today publishes twelve new reports on NHS hospital wards and other facilities 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. The Commission expects a response to each of its recommendations within three months of the reports being published.

Today’s reports highlight 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:

“The reports published today cover a wide range of NHS services including a specialist unit for young people, wards for people with learning disability, wards for people with dementia, and an intensive psychiatric care unit.  

“Once again, patients and families very often praised staff across the ward teams. Positive interaction between staff and patients really matters – so much so that it is connected to two issues we wish to highlight today.

“In a number of these reports we make recommendations to increase the involvement of patients in their care and treatment, or of families to be more involved.. An example is during multi-disciplinary meetings on the ward, where a patient can be invited to take part and discuss their care with the team. Another is building in regular time for each patient to have a one-to-one talk with a staff member, recording that time in their care plan.

“And once again, we visited wards or units where the care and treatment were very good, but patients told us they struggled with a lack of activity all day. Having something purposeful and creative to do is often a vital part of the experience of getting well enough to leave hospital. This should not be underestimated.”

The reports are for: