Commission’s latest visit reports highlight importance of regular reviews in care settings
Publication date: 17 Jan, 2024
The Mental Welfare Commission today published 17 new reports following visits to mental health and learning disability services in Scotland.
Every year the Commission visits around 100 wards and units for people with mental ill health, learning disability, dementia or related conditions in Scotland. From this year, these visits are being extended to community mental health teams.
During the visits Commission visitors talk to patients, relatives and staff, and examine records. A report is published after each visit. The Commission expects a response to each of its recommendations within three months of the reports being published.
Today’s reports highlight positive findings, aspects of care and treatment where we think the service could do better, and making recommendations for change where necessary.
Claire Lamza, executive director (nursing), Mental Welfare Commission, said:
“Our first reports of 2024 highlight the importance of regular audit. Audits can ensure that individuals’ care plans, the medical and legal documents associated with this, and the policies and procedures in different settings provide staff with the information they need to provide the best person-centred care.
"With almost half of these visits being unannounced, we heard first hand from staff about their concerns in meeting the needs of those in their care, although we were also impressed with the leadership and developments taking place in the services we visited."
The reports are for: