Health chiefs have defended their controversial decision to move a crucial mental health service out of Perthshire.
The out-of-hours crisis response unit at Murray Royal Hospital was on Wednesday transferred to the Carsview Centre in Dundee.
A general adult psychiatry inpatient service in Angus is also being moved.
NHS Tayside blamed a shortage of junior doctors for the decision, which has been criticised by some mental health campaigners.
Nine patients from the Mulberry Ward at the Susan Carnegie Centre were transferred, along with staff, to their new, bigger Carseview Centre base.
Robert Packham, chief officer of the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The decision to move the Mulberry ward on an interim basis was taken based on the many local and regional mental health services provided in Dundee and Perth and Kinross.
“Junior doctors are crucial to providing a whole range of mental health services in these areas, both in and out-of-hours, including child and adolescent mental health services, learning disability services, psychiatry of old age and regional service care clinic service.”
He said: “This means that the majority of our junior doctors are centred around Dundee and Perth.
“We can now ensure that the limited number of junior doctors we have are able to care for the whole range of Tayside patients in the safest and most appropriate environments.”
Mr Packham added: “We understand that the decision will create practical difficulties where people need to travel and that the change will cause some concerns for patients and their families.
“But we will will never compromise the safety of our patients and we simply do not have the right level of medical cover at this time.”
He thanked all patients and families for their understanding. “I can assure them that people across Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross will still have access to safe and effective mental health and care services.”
NHS Tayside medical director Professor Andrew Russell added: “Medical, nursing and management teams have been working really hard over the past few weeks to ensure that this interim move is as smooth and safe as possible for everyone involved.
“I would like to pay tribute to all our staff who have put patients first at all times and who have gone above and beyond to make sure patients will continue to receive the highest standards of care.”
