Commission publishes new local visit reports - 25 November 2020

The Mental Welfare Commission today published two local visit reports – one to a ward for people with dementia in Stratheden Hospital in Fife, and the other to a ward for people with learning disability and complex needs at Woodland View Hospital in Irvine.

The reports highlight positive and negative findings from the Commission's visits. They make recommendations for change where necessary. The Commission expects a response to each of its recommendations within three months of the reports being published.

Claire Lamza, interim executive director, Mental Welfare Commission, said: 

“We are carefully reintroducing our visits on an announced basis given the challenges of the pandemic. As well as looking at our ongoing areas of interest we are seeking to understand how services are coping with pandemic restrictions, and how those restrictions are affecting individuals and visitors.

“By publishing our reports we hope to help share good practice where we find it, and call for change where services are lacking." 

The reports are for:

Notes to Editors

These local visits were undertaken using a combination of telephone contact with staff and managers prior to (and after) the visits and interviews, in person with patients where possible, and with ward staff. 

The Commission is undertaking a phased return to its visit programme following the recommendations in the Scottish Government’s route map to recovery.