This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Susan Deacon Responds To Mental Welfare Commission Report
08/11/2000
Some important improvements in care and treatment for mental health patients this year - but more development and investment is still needed over a number of years to deliver consistent high-quality standards of care across the country. That was the message from Scottish Health Minister Susan Deacon today in response to the publication of the Mental Welfare Commission's annual report for the past year.
Ms Deacon said:
"In January of this year, I held a mental health summit involving all those with a stake in the delivery of better services in this key area. I indicated then that the way forward was for the Scottish Executive, the NHS, local authorities and the voluntary sector to work in partnership to develop positive policies for those with mental health problems. To work together to deliver more responsive services for vulnerable individuals and to work together to ensure that the views of users and their families shape the design of future care and treatment. I think we have made good progress towards this on all fronts this year.
"Mental health services are one of the three main priorities for the NHS in Scotland. A further £2m has been made available to the Mental Health and Well Being Development Fund this year. And we have increased the Mental Illness Specific Grant by a further £1 million. Investment in health services this year, and for the next three years, will increase substantially in Scotland.
"I am committed to ensuring that mental heath, as a priority NHS service, receives an appropriate share of that increased resource. And - as with every other area of the NHS - I want to see that extra investment matched by reform and improvements in the way services are delivered. Faster response, fairer access to services, and better quality of care in high quality surroundings for patients and their families.
"I am grateful to the Mental Welfare Commission for their contribution to this agenda. The Commission's report this year highlights areas where services could be improved. That is what they are there for. Continuous improvement needs to be monitored and evaluated at every stage.
"The Commission rightly flags up the ongoing need to improve the fabric of our buildings, to reduce the unacceptable levels of delayed discharge, the need for the legislative framework to catch up with developments in the field, and the care and treatment for those in the State Hospital. I am pleased to note ongoing developments on all these fronts.
"Nowhere are modern dignified surroundings more important in the NHS than where patients with mental health problems are concerned. Sadly, thanks to years of neglect, too many of our mental health facilities are simply not up to the job. Earlier this year, I announced an additional £5 million of capital investment for mental health facilities. This helped to supplement ongoing initiatives around the country. I was particularly pleased to be able to open a new, state of the art £14m mental health and learning disabilities centre in Inverness last month. I hope that this additional funding will begin to address this problem - but I recognise that we will have to look at further investment in the fabric of our buildings as part of our strategic planning of capital investment in the coming years.
"The Commission also expressed concern about delayed discharges. Managing bed blocking is a matter for local agencies but I have been able to allocate nearly £20m of additional new resources this year between local authorities and the NHS to help reduce delayed discharge. A further £30 million over the next three years has also now been guaranteed for local authorities to maintain the pressure on this enduring problem.
"Money alone is not sufficient and we need to look at how agencies can work together in the planning and provision of services. The Review of Learning Disability Services was published this summer and our plans to implement its findings include a commitment to close all long stay hospitals for people with learning disabilities by 2005. The Joint Future Group which aims to join up services delivered by Health Boards, NHS Trusts and local authorities and the review of services for Mentally Disordered Offenders will both be reporting shortly. I expect these to give further impetus to the development of joined up services for all with mental health needs.
"I am delighted also that the Commission welcomed the new Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. Often overlooked amid the froth of stories which have surrounded the first 18 months of the Scottish Parliament, I believe this will come to be viewed as one of our most important and enduring legislative achievements - bringing with it tangible improvements for vulnerable people and their families. That Act will be implemented from 1 April 2001, but we are also progressing other initiatives. Proposals for regulating care and the social services workforce and legislation will follow later this year. The Millan Committee is currently reviewing mental health legislation. The Committee has been given extra time to complete its report in recognition of the exhaustive nature of the review it is carrying out and I expect now to receive the report at the turn of the year. The Executive will respond quickly to the report's recommendations.
"We have also continued to look carefully at the services provided to those individuals who require the secure care available in the State hospital. I welcomed the Mental Welfare Commission's Report into the care and treatment of Noel Ruddle during the year and said that I was determined to work with the State Hospital in implementing the report's recommendations in full. I understand that the Commission met recently with the State Hospital to hear how improvements were being progressed. I understand also that the Commission were broadly content with developments. We will continue to monitor the implementation of these recommendations carefully."
BACKGROUND
The Mental Welfare Commission Annual Report is published today. Copies are available from:
Alison McRae
Secretary
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
K Floor, Argyle House
3 Lady Lawson Street
EDINBURGH EH3 9SH
Telephone: 0131 222 6168
News Release: SE2879/2000
8 Nov 2000