New statistics reveal that a patient takes their own life approximately every five weeks on average in Scotland’s mental health facilities.
The researchers discovered that most of these inpatients were deemed to be at low or no short-term risk prior to their deaths.
Concerns have been voiced by families who believe insufficient measures are in place to protect some of the most at-risk patients within the healthcare system from self-harm.
LIFEHACKScotland News can disclose that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has served improvement notices on three hospitals over the past few years due to their failure in mitigating the risk of patient suicides.
Caution: The following article includes disturbing information.
The University of Manchester
runs a research project
This monitors suicide rates and safety patterns related to mental health care recipients throughout the United Kingdom.
The recent report indicates that approximately 139 patients admitted for mental health treatment in Scottish hospitals reportedly took their own lives between 2012 and 2022.
As indicated by the study, 64% of those individuals were determined to pose little to no immediate threat prior to their deaths.
In 2022, Scotland recorded 11 suicides among individuals receiving inpatient mental health care, corresponding to a rate of 5.9 suicides for every 10,000 admissions.
This increased from eight suicides in 2019, with a rate of 3.7 per 10,000 admissions.
In 2020, former psychiatrist Dr. Sara MacRae was admitted as a patient at the Royal Edinburgh Mental Health Hospital where she took her own life in her room.
An accident inquiry held last year
The supervising staff overlooked several opportunities to prevent the death.
Additionally, significant shortcomings were noted in how Dr MacRae was treated and cared for by NHS Lothian.
LIFEHACKScotland News disclosed that Dr MacRae’s room was classified as having a “high risk” of suicide attempts the previous year; however, efforts to tackle this issue were halted because of financial constraints.
Dr. MacRae’s son Christopher stated: “The findings reveal a very troubling pattern, although regrettably, this isn’t unexpected.”
FAIs are not required after the passing of a patient in psychiatric confinement. Our situation involved a four-year struggle to obtain an investigation into my mother’s demise.
Conversely, the Scottish Prison Service requires a comprehensive investigation following any fatality within their facilities, offering crucial information and guidance to avoid similar incidents in the future.
With the ongoing tally of hospital fatalities, it’s evident that Scotland’s healthcare authorities have yet to implement sufficient measures to avoid these heartbreaking incidents.
Safety investigations
Several fatalities at hospitals over the past few years have prompted inquiries from the HSE.
NHS Highland was issued with three improvement notices by the watchdog in 2022 for its New Craigs mental health hospital in Inverness.
All these issues pertain to the well-being and security of both patients and personnel, encompassing the oversight in eliminating recognized suicide hazards like potential hanging points from isolation zones within the ward premises, which include patient rooms and private bathroom facilities.
Over 8,000 ligature points have been found at New Craigs, where three individuals have ended their own lives within the past five years.
NHS Highland states that efforts to dismantle these areas and enhance facilities at the hospital continue unabated.
In other parts of the Highlands, an upgrade notification sent out last year to the Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban required improvements.
failing to sufficiently minimize the risk of patient suicide
has now been fulfilled.
An HSE enhancement order was given to Wishaw University Hospital earlier this year due to their failure in effectively minimizing the risk of patient suicides within its psychiatric care unit.
When LIFEHACKScotland News reached out to NHS Lanarkshire about whether the problems have been resolved, they were unable to provide comments since the issue is currently under ongoing legal proceedings.
Last year, the HSE issued an improvement notice to Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert concerning issues related to suicide risks within its mental health unit.
The NHS Forth Valley board documents from January classified the issue as high-risk due to reports of patients being harmed or dying, with no indication that such incidents will cease occurring.
The notification has been addressed as part of an extensive continuing effort aimed at minimizing possible hazards across several patient care zones.
Unexpected deaths
In 2018, a review conducted by the Scottish government revealed that the fatalities involving individuals receiving treatment for mental health issues or learning disabilities are not systematically examined in an assuredly unbiased manner at present.
The review discovered that not every death undergoes investigation, particularly when these fatalities were already noted as inevitable or expected.
Scottish authorities requested that the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWCS) create a new framework for examining fatalities; however, their suggestions have not been completely implemented yet.
A representative from the commission stated: “We fully concur with the necessity of adopting a uniform method to facilitate education and ensuring that this implementation occurs.”
A representative from the Scottish government stated: “Each demise due to suicide is a tragic event, and we extend our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by such occurrences.”
Our approach to preventing suicides outlines an ambitious plan of action, which includes measures within healthcare environments.
We are collaborating with the MWCS to create a new process for examining the fatalities of individuals who passed away while being held under mental health laws.
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If you’ve been impacted by the themes in this narrative, assistance and support can be found through the following resources:
LIFEHACKAction Line
.
- Son gave hospital ‘clear evidence’ his mum planned to take her own life
- Hospitals instructed to implement patient safety enhancements following suicides
- NHS workers might have prevented suicide, says inquiry
