The mum of a woman who took her life on Moredun Ward in Perth has dismissed Health Secretary Humza Yousaf’s response to the failures at the facility as “twaddle”.
Ann Sangster was left frustrated by the SNP minister’s reaction following The Courier investigation that uncovered a fifth death at the disgraced Murray Royal Hospital ward.
Her daughter Rebecca died on the ward aged 31 in 2015, one of three women who took their lives while a patient at the ‘state-of-the-art’ facility in a 2.5 year period.
NHS Tayside admitted criminal guilt in their deaths and were fined £120,000.
Yet less than 10 months after the March 2020 court case another young woman, Celine Dinis, died following an incident on the same ward.
The Courier investigation proved a fifth patient also died on the ward during this time.
‘Deepest sympathies’
This discovery led Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser to highlight the issue with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who agreed to look into the failures.
I raised this issue with @NicolaSturgeon today at #FMQs. She said that she wasn’t aware of the details and would write to me with more information. https://t.co/Ud6NGt6u3q
— Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) March 24, 2022
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has now responded to the investigation in a letter seen by The Courier.
In it Mr Yousaf extended his “deepest sympathies” to the families but said it was his understanding that “following these incidents and subsequent investigations, NHS Tayside have put in multiple improvements.”
The cabinet minister highlights the Trust and Respect report by Dr Strang, saying the Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Tayside to implement its recommendations.
Both Dr Strang and the newly formed Independent Oversight Committee have criticised NHS Tayside’s implementation of those recommendations.
‘Twaddle is being recycled’
Ann Sangster believes the health secretary’s response could have “been written a year ago”, saying it lacked any detail.
She also questioned how any meaningful research by the Health Minister could have been carried out between March 24 when Mr Fraser posed the question and March 30 when the response was sent.
“My initial reaction was disappointment that the same old twaddle is being recycled.
“If implementing these recommendations is ‘crucial to delivering meaningful improvements to mental health services and achieving positive outcomes for communities in Tayside’, I can’t help but ask why such slow progress while patients are potentially at risk.”
The mum believed that there was a failure to distinguish what was being written on paper or in policy and what was actually occurring on Moredun Ward.
“I was satisfied by the policies in place at NHS Tayside when my daughter was an inpatient,” said Ann.
“However what was on paper was not what was carried out on the front line.
“There was a break down in the channels of supervision between the policy maker to the front line staff.”
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
Anyone affected by the issues raised in this article or in need of assistance can call Samaritans free of charge 24 hours a day on 116 123, or by visiting the Samaritans website.
If you would like to speak to our Impact investigations reporter Sean O’Neil please email soneil@dctmedia.co.uk
