North East MSP Liam Kerr has written to health chiefs to clarify when the temporary relocation of an Angus mental health unit will come to an end.
The Mulberry Unit at Stracathro Hospital was closed and inpatient services moved to Carseview at Ninewells in Dundee at the start of February in an “interim” move amid a shortage of junior doctors.
The move came as a review is taking place to reduce the number of mental health units in Tayside.
Last March NHS Tayside’s board approved a proposal to reduce the number of adult psychiatry inpatient services in Tayside from three to one or two locations.
A preferred option on the future model will be revealed within the next three months.
Mr Kerr said: “The relocation of inpatient services at the Mulberry Unit to Carseview has been variously described as an interim or temporary measure.
“I raised the matter at First Minister’s questions and was given assurances that this would not be permanent.
“However, there remains a great deal of concern locally that this facility will not be returning to Stracathro Hospital.
“I was also concerned when the head of health and social care at NHS Scotland told me during a public audit committee that NHS Tayside would have to consolidate assets.
“That was in response to a direct question about the Mulberry Unit, and it did not provide any comfort whatsoever.
“I think families in the Angus area who are worried about the centralisation of health services deserve some clarity from the health board on this issue.
“If the Mulberry Unit is coming back to Stracathro then we should be told when that will happen.”
Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership, which host general adult psychiatry inpatient services in Tayside, could not give a date when the Mulberry Unit would reopen.
Chief Officer Robert Packham said: “The contingency plan had to be invoked because of a national shortage of trainee psychiatrists and changes to the number of junior doctors available to NHS Tayside.
“The length of the interim move will depend on the availability of junior doctors at each future rotation and specifically, the numbers available to work in Tayside.”
Mr Packham added that the doctor shortage underlined the “challenges” in sustaining the existing model of service.
He said a preferred option for the future of the mental health provision will come forward within the next three months.
“Several options were developed jointly by service users and specialists in mental health,” he added.
“These options are being evaluated and a preferred option will be determined within the next three months.
“The process is subjected to rigorous scrutiny from a wide range of stakeholders and thereafter to three months of formal public consultation.
“The future design of the services will emerge at the same time as we are recruiting junior doctors for the next rotation.
“These two issues will help to determine the time period for the interim move of the ward.”
