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An investigation into Scotland’s largest psychiatric hospital for children has revealed ongoing serious concerns about patient care, several months after a documentary uncovered troubling treatment practices by nursing staff. The BBC Disclosure program, *Kids on The Psychiatric Ward*, broadcast last February, featured interviews with 28 former patients from Skye House in Glasgow. These young individuals shared distressing accounts of nurses referring to them with derogatory terms like “pathetic” and “disgusting,” and even ridiculing their suicide attempts.
A surprise inspection conducted half a year later uncovered similar problems at the facility. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) acknowledged that while there had been notable improvements since the review, further progress was still required. Among the concerns raised during this unannounced visit were reports from vulnerable patients under 18 who said they felt “belittled” and “bullied,” with families criticizing some staff members for lacking “empathy” and “compassion.” NHSGGC noted that positive steps had been taken, including the recruitment of additional personnel and reducing the number of beds to provide more personalized care.
Skye House, located within Glasgow’s Stobhill hospital grounds, is a 24-bed unit admitting children aged 12 to 17 who are often experiencing acute mental health crises such as eating disorders, depression, and psychosis. Patients who spoke to the BBC recounted frequent use of physical restraint by staff, sometimes involving dragging children down corridors, resulting in bruising and trauma. Other troubling practices included excessive medication and punitive measures like forcing patients to clean their own blood after self-harm episodes. Following the original documentary, it came to light that NHS safety inspectors had not conducted any formal inspections of the hospital. Although the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) had visited multiple times since 2016, they lacked enforcement powers. It was only after the BBC investigation that Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) was tasked by the Scottish government to commence formal inspections.
In response, HIS and the MWC carried out an unannounced joint inspection in August, subsequently publishing a report that acknowledged some enhancements in patient care but underscored severe staffing shortages and ongoing issues in treatment approaches. One vulnerable patient described being called “pathetic” and “selfish” for requiring feeding through a nasogastric tube, while another reported instances where nurses neglected to clean blood from her face after self-harm before moving through the ward. The report identified a critical staffing deficit, noting that many employees felt “burnt out” due to excessive workloads. There was particular concern over reliance on temporary bank staff or adult ward personnel who were unfamiliar with the specific needs of adolescent patients. Additionally, the documentation of restraint incidents was found inadequate, with under-reporting occurring despite young patients describing some agency staff as using “rough” methods. Nevertheless, recorded uses of restraint were judged proportional to the risks presented.
Several individuals featured in the documentary expressed their ongoing distress over the conditions. Abby, who spent two and a half years at Skye House and is autistic, said she felt bullied by staff and was dismayed to learn such problems persisted. She emphasized the crucial difference in care quality between permanent staff and temporary workers, especially when patients showed signs of distress. Abby highlighted the importance of accurately recording restraint episodes to ensure transparency about patient treatment. Another former patient, Anna, whose experience prompted the BBC’s original investigation, stated: “The report confirms that my experience wasn’t a one-off. I’m glad I voiced my concern as I fear it would have continued if I hadn’t. I still struggle with the trauma from Skye House but the news that change is happening gives me some closure.”
Claire Lamza, the executive director of nursing at the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, commented that staffing shortages were central to many issues identified. She noted that some young people and parents reported that staff could not always provide adequate support during distressing episodes. Lamza explained, “The lack of staffing meant that there weren’t enough to be able to support young people when they were in distress. The staff that were coming in didn’t necessarily have the training and the skills and the competencies to be able to meet the needs of these young people.”
Derrick Pearce, NHSGGC’s lead director for specialist children’s services, affirmed that significant improvements were underway, including bolstered staffing levels. He stated, “This inspection took place at the mid-point of the improvement plans to tackle the challenges facing the service, and the report highlights a number of improvements already in place, including strengthened leadership, additional oversight and changes in how care is delivered within the unit. However, we absolutely accept more needs to be done to improve service provision.” Furthermore, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has commissioned an external review by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, with findings expected to be released in March
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