Families to be involved in NHS Tayside mental health probe

Summary

The Education Committee continues its inquiry on attainment and child poverty
Hepatitis C is the focus of a lunchtime members' debate
Health and sport ministers are quizzed in portfolio questions
Scottish Labour leads a debate on the NHS Tayside mental health inquiry and waiting times
Ending the day is a members' debate on road conditions

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison and Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside inquiry will be part of development of suicide review processpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, Thinkstock
Around a quarter of deaths from suicide is carried out by people who have not received support from the health service, Ms Watt notes.
The minister highlights the parliament has already legislated for a review of deaths of people held in hospital under section 37 of the Mental Health Act.
The development of a process to review all suicides must take account of the section 37 review, she states.
Through sharing knowledge and learning, we can ensure more people can get the help they require, the minister asserts.
Ms Watt concludes that the NHS Tayside inquiry will be an important part of this learning.
Here is the government amendmentpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, Scottish Parliament
New suicide prevent strategy to be published this yearpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image caption,
Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt
Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt praises the families of loved ones lost to suicide, adding it is because of their efforts that NHS Tayside has committed to an inquiry.
Mental health services are not operated in a vacuum and they work best when there is cooperation with community and crisis services, the minister says.
I am pleased to see a commitment to work with NHS Tayside staff and hear from families, she adds.
The Scottish government is currently working with stakeholders across Scotland on a new suicide prevention plan, to be published this summer.
"My view is clear; suicide is preventable."
Labour MSP quotes emotional e-mail from David Ramsay's niecepublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Mr Sarwar points out the inquiry must deliver for the people of Tayside.
The Labour MSP concludes by quoting an e-mail he received from the niece of David Ramsay.
Gillian Murray wrote: "There is no doubt in our mind that David has been failed.
"My family are now another sad statistic in Dundee."
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Gillian Murray is in the front row of this shot surrounded by other family members
"There are so many of us in the same situation it is terrifying."
He goes on to say Ms Murray wrote watching her uncle and best friend lose his mind in front of her with no support from the NHS fueled her anger.
The Labour MSP explains how Ms Murray had to Google how to look after someone who was suicidal because Carseview took no ownership.
He explains how Ms Murray found Mr Martin after his suicide and is suffering from post traumatic stress.
Mr Sarwar concludes saying he hopes the parliament stands united with Ms Murray and all the families in their quest for justice.
'The reality for too many patients is that they can't wait days to see a GP'published at 14:53 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Health Secretary Shona Robison confirms the inquiry will be independent, open and inclusive, which Mr Sarwar welcomes.
The Labour MSP goes on to say it would be "an absolute tragedy" if any inquiry did not have the full support of the family.
"We cannot allow this to become a repeat of the mesh inquiry," he states.
One in nine young people have attempted suicide and one in six have self harmed, the Labour MSP states.
He also highlights one in three people will have a mental health issue at some point in their lives.
"The reality for too many patients is that they can't wait days to see a GP."
He calls for better use of technology to allow people to speak to counsellors more quickly.
Background: Inquiry to be held into mental health unitpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Mr Ramsay's family say his death could have been prevented if the psychiatric unit had given him help when he asked for it
NHS bosses have ordered an independent inquiry into a psychiatric unit following the case of a man who killed himself after being refused admission.
David Ramsay, 50, took his own life in 2016 just days after twice being sent home from the Carseview centre at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Nicola Sturgeon was questioned by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard over the case at Holyrood on Thursday.
NHS Tayside has now announced the care provided by Carseview will be reviewed.
Mr Ramsay's family has been campaigning for a full public inquiry into mental health provision in NHS Tayside, with his niece Gillian Murray calling for Health Secretary Shona Robison - a Dundee MSP - to stand down.
- Minister urged to quit over suicide case
- Read more here.
Inquiry must be visibily independent, open and inclusivepublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar highlights the tragic case of David Ramsay's suicide.
Mr Sarwar notes there has been a 61% increase in the number of suicides in the last year.
The Labour MSP points to the NHS Tayside inquiry announced last week and calls for a wider inquiry into mental health services across the region.
He says he cannot thank the campaigners and family members who have lost loved ones enough.
Image caption,
Familes who have lost loved ones to suicide are in the gallery, including David Ramsay's family
The Labour MSP calls for families to be included in the inquiry and it must be transparent and open.
It must be visibly independent, open and inclusive, he adds.
Background: Families will have voice in mental health inquiry says ministerpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, Google
Image caption,
Caresview Centre in Dundee
Scotland's health secretary said she understood why the families of suicide victims wanted answers over the lack of mental health support.
Shona Robison was speaking ahead of a Holyrood debate calling for a public inquiry into mental health services in NHS Tayside.
An independent probe has been ordered into the Caresview Centre in Dundee, but families say that is not enough.
Mr Robison insisted the views of families would be heard.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said: "I have met with families in Dundee and indeed elsewhere who have lost loved ones to suicide and they want answers, and if those answers can be given then this inquiry should seek to do that."
Read more here.
Labour will now lead a debate calling for an NHS Tayside public inquiry into mental health servicespublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, Scottish Parliament
Regional cooperation between NHS boardspublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott, in light of reported comments by the health secretary regarding cooperation between NHS boards that "there will be a regional structure in place", asks for further details of this policy and what the implications are for regional NHS boards.
Background: Big increase in dentist registrations in Scotlandpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, PA
The number of Scots registered with an NHS dentist has almost doubled over the past decade - and now stands at five million people.
NHS figures showed that 92.5% of the population was registered for dental care by 30 September last year.
That compared with just 51.1% in 2007.
But children and adults from the most deprived areas were still less likely to have seen their dentist within the past two years than those from the most affluent areas.
About 80% of children and 63% of adults from the poorest areas had visited the dentist in the previous 24 months, compared to about 90% of children and 74% of adults in the least deprived areas
- Read the full report, external
Out-of-hours dental carepublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Tory MSP Alexander Burnett asks what action the government is taking to ensure that all NHS boards provide out-of-hours dental care.
Background: Prostate cancer diagnosis breakthrough hailedpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, Dr_Microbe/Getty
Image caption,
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK
A new ultrasound process offering more successful diagnosis and management of prostate cancer has been identified by Dundee University researchers.
The university said non-invasive shear wave elastography (SWE) offers "much greater accuracy and reliability" than current testing and is less expensive.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.
Former Dundee University rector Stephen Fry, who underwent surgery for prostate cancer, called the research "exciting".
Read more here.
Prostate biopsypublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Labour MSP Mark Griffin asks the Scottish government what plans it has to ensure that all eligible men receive an mpMRI scan before a prostate biopsy.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clydepublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
SNP MSP Rona Mackay asks when the government will next meet NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Participation in sportpublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
SNP MSP Tom Arthur asks the how the government supports participation in sport in the Renfrewshire South constituency.
Background: Teenage antidepressants 'doing more harm than good'published at 14:30 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, Thinkstock
A leading expert in psychiatric medication has said the growing prescription of antidepressants to teenagers is doing more harm than good.
Prof David Healy questioned why they were being given the medication when clinical trial results were so poor.
Last year, figures obtained by BBC Scotland showed more than 5,500 under-18s in Scotland were prescribed antidepressants.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists said the drugs were an important option.
Read more here.
Overuse of antidepressantspublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne asks what the government position is on concerns regarding the overuse of antidepressants.
Background: New mental health strategy unveiled by Scottish governmentpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
Image source, Getty Images
The Scottish government unveiled its strategy on mental health on 30 March 2017, committing to spend more than £300m to tackle it in the next five years.
Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt said her ambition was for mental and physical illnesses to achieve "parity of esteem" in the way they are treated.
Ms Watt told MSPs she would work hard to tackle poverty as the "biggest driver" of poor mental health.
There are 40 actions in the Scottish government's new strategy.
They include:
- Increasing mental health workforce in A&E, GP practices, police stations and prisons
- Reviewing counselling and guidance services in schools
- Reforming adults with incapacity legislation so it complies with best international standards
- Establishing a bi-annual forum of mental health experts to help guide the implementation
- Read more here
Mental health strategypublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 9 May 2018
SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon asks the government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of its mental health strategy.