A shortage of vital mental health staff across Tayside will result in Dundee’s Carseview Centre treating more psychiatric patients from across the region.
NHS Tayside said a national shortage of junior doctors and psychiatrists has resulted in a range of mental health services in both Angus and Perth and Kinross transferring to Dundee.
The move means from February 1, a general adult psychiatry (GAP) inpatient service in Angus and out-of-hours crisis response service in Perth and Kinross will be moved to Carseview.
Just 18.6 of the whole-time equivalent junior doctors from a requirement of 31 will be available to NHS Tayside in its mental health services, making it “impossible” to sustain safe services across three sites.
GAP inpatient services will remain on offer at Perth’s Murray Royal Hospital.
Mental health services will also continue to be provided from the Susan Carnegie Centre in Angus for elderly patients.
NHS Tayside Medical Director Professor Andrew Russell confirmed: “Our medical teams have been working hard to find a safe, workable and sustainable solution to the shortage of junior doctors but, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, we have no option but to move to our contingency plans.
“These impact on both the general adult psychiatry (GAP) inpatient service and the crisis response service in Tayside.
“In order to allow us to provide a safe level of care for our patients, GAP inpatient services will be provided from two sites, Carseview and Murray Royal Hospital.
“This will see an interim move of the Mulberry ward to Carseview, with the transition starting on 1 February. It may take a few weeks until the ward is fully transferred.
“Local consultants from the Mulberry ward are also looking at how the local community mental health models of care in Angus can be enhanced during this interim period.
“There are no changes to services provided in hours or to the provision of intensive home treatment in Perth and Kinross.
“The out-of-hours assessments will transfer to the Carseview Centre between 3pm and 9am weekdays and at weekends. Staff in both Angus and Perth and Kinross affected will be supported to move to their new workplace.”
Professor Russell added: “We understand that this decision may cause upset to patients and their families but we cannot compromise the safety of our patients and we simply do not have the right level of medical cover at this time.”
The news has been met with with concern by local politicians
Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Liz Smith said: “These changes will inevitably worry patients and families across Perth and Kinross and are symptomatic of a wider problem of recruitment within our NHS.”
Murdo Fraser MSP said: “It is very concerning to hear about the loss of this valuable service from the Murray Royal in Perth to Carseview in Dundee.”
