NHS Tayside has said users of its learning disability unit will not be disadvantaged when it is temporarily transferred to Strathmartine Hospital.
The learning disability assessment unit at Carseview is being transferred to Murray Royal Hospital in Perth as part of NHS Tayside’s redesign of its mental health services.
However, the accommodation at Murray Royal requires extensive refurbishment before the unit can be moved.
It means it will be housed in Strathmartine Hospital for up to nine months while while the refurbishment takes place.
Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra said: “I feel that people with learning disabilities have received the short end of the stick here. There are laws in place to protect them from decision making like this.
“I would urge NHS Tayside to reconsider this ahead of the planned move in September.”
But Robert Packham, chief officer for Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership said Strathmartine Hospital will be brought up to scratch before any transfer.
He said: “The aim of the transformation planned for the learning disability services is to provide our service users with a far better care environment in modern, state-of-the-art facilities at Murray Royal Hospital which will have significantly improved living accommodation.
“The plan sees the learning disability assessment unit at Carseview transferring on a temporary basis to existing learning disability accommodation at the Strathmartine Centre for six to nine months to allow refurbishment at Carseview and Murray Royal to happen.
“The service will then move to its permanent home at Murray Royal Hospital.”
Mr Packham said once renovated the accommodation at Murray Royal would be superior to the one currently being used at Carseview.
He said: “We are currently planning improvement work to the Strathmartine accommodation and we will be working closely with the clinical team to balance the needs of the patients and the temporary nature of the move.
“Service users will benefit from access to workshops and gardens and other Occupational Therapy activities at their temporary home in Strathmartine.
“Planning is underway but there is no timescale for the temporary move at present. We will be keeping service users and their families and carers and our staff updated on timescales for the move.”
