Still unclear why Skye House cruelty was missed

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has criticised the government for failing to clarify the reach of the Mental Welfare Commission and to explain whether the body requires any further powers to properly report on issues at inpatient psychiatric facilities.

It follows allegations of a culture of cruelty at Scotland’s largest psychiatric hospital for children, Skye House. The Mental Welfare Commission visited the facility on seven occasions, but failed to raise issues of abuse, neglect and cruelty which have now been revealed in a BBC documentary.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Cole-Hamilton asked the Minister for Mental Wellbeing what more the Scottish Government was doing to examine the reach of the Mental Welfare Commission.

In response, the Minister said that the Commission’s “understanding of the situation in the inpatient units is limited by it being a snapshot, a single visit” and that the Commission will continue making visits to inpatient psychiatric facilities.

Speaking after the exchange, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called for a ministerial statement on this important issue, so I am glad that the government finally listened.

“It is, however, still hugely unclear whether the Mental Welfare Commission is sufficiently empowered to act in cases like this and why the original allegations were missed.

“I do not understand why this is such a difficult question for the government to answer. Patients and their families deserve to know what safeguards exist to prevent this horrific situation from ever happening again.

“It is so important that every child and young person going through a difficult time has faith in the system. The Scottish Government make that no easier by failing to answer basic questions.”