Scotland's four specialist units for children and young people with complex mental health needs are being told they need to work more closely together to ensure young people and their families get the best care possible wherever they live.

A joint report by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland found inconsistencies between how the four services are operated – and the need for improvements to the care environment of each.

A year ago, Health Improvement Scotland in the mental Welfare Commission for Scotland were commissioned by the Scottish government to undertake inspections of Scotland's inpatient child and adolescent mental health services amid concerns about the care being provided.

Four places offer "Tier 4" highly specialised inpatient care for children and young people requiring assessment and treatment for complex mental health needs:

• Melville Unit, NHS Lothian
• National Child Psychiatry Inpatient Unit (Ward 4), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Skye House, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Dudhope Unit, NHS Tayside

In their national overview report published today, the two organisations highlight a number of areas of innovation and good practice – not least what they saw during their visits as the positive way that staff and young people treated each other.

However, the report also points to concerns, which varied between units, around staff attitudes, the use of restraint and shortcomings in multidisciplinary working.

The organisations found that none of the units were consistently having discussions with the young people around their right to have an Advance Statement outlining their preferences and wishes for future care at a point when they were well enough to be involved.

In a joint statement following publication of their report, Robbie Pearson, Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and the Chief Executive of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, Julie Paterson said:

“All four reports evidence a range of good practice and positive experiences of children, young people, relatives and staff, as well as areas for improvement.

“However, there are inconsistencies across the units, in terms of the areas where units are performing well and the areas for improvement.

“Our overarching recommendation therefore is that learning must take place across all four units. Where there is good practice, this must be replicated where improvement is needed.

“When a child or young person is admitted to hospital because of complex mental health needs, they are at their most vulnerable. They and their families have a right to expect consistent, high quality, compassionate care in a safe environment, no matter where in Scotland they receive this.”

 

Read more: Scotland facing “mental health emergency”; Have your say on mental health funding; NHS Lothian escalated over CAMHS performance

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