Responses to a survey on experiences of NHS mental health services in the region are likely to greatly help with providing a “realistic portrayal” of them.
Dr David Strang compiled the final report for his independent inquiry into NHS Tayside Mental Health Services and, ongoing from this, he intends to consider the public feedback gained through a survey for clients and their families.
This is part of an effort to gauge what progress has been made following his recommendations to the health board.
In a newsletter produced by the Fair City’s mental health collective advocacy service, PLUS Perth manager Susan Scott has urged people to use the opportunity to provide vital feedback by completing the ‘Experiences of Mental Health Services in Tayside’ survey.
The survey was launched last month and will continue to garner views and lived experiences until it closes on April 11.
Susan told the PA that Dr Strang’s explosive final report, published in February last year, stated that NHS Tayside Mental Health Services was putting too much emphasis on inpatient beds and intensive treatment.
After a series of deaths, some families of those who have used Dundee’s Carseview mental health crisis centre complained that early stage support for their relatives was inadequate.
Susan compared NHS Tayside’s 30 community mental health staff to NHS Lothian, which has 60 - twice as many helping in the community.
“I’ve heard anecdotes of people told they were ‘not bad enough’ to warrant help, their case was not seen a severe enough - that’s terrible to have to wait till things become critical,” she said.
Susan urged people to fill out the survey and not to worry that doing so might have negative consequences: “The importance of driving up survey activity cannot be overstated.
“I want to assure everybody this research is being conducted by Survey Monkey, it has nothing to do with NHS Tayside.
“It is paramount that folk feel safe enough to be honest.
“Where people act together, put their experiences together, they will be believed.
“A year on from publishing his recommendations, Dr Strang is anxious to see what has changed [in NHS Tayside Mental Health Services] and what has not.
“By providing this grassroots information on what NHS Tayside’s mental health services are like, we can give Dr Strang a head start in his review of mental health services in Tayside and our opportunities to change these services for the better will multiply.
“Dr Strang will receive copies of the survey response data and he has assured us that he will keep the responses anonymous.
“It is important to reiterate this so as to maintain confidence in the integrity of this confidential survey, thus encouraging a realistic portrayal of mental health services in Tayside.”
The 48-question survey is available online and can be sent out as a hard copy from PLUS Perth’s office on Canal Street for those who do not wish to complete it electronically.See www.plusperth.co.uk or call 01738 626242 for details.
