Admissions restricted at the only psychiatric hospital in the Highlands - New Craigs, Inverness
ADMISSIONS have been resticted at New Craigs psychiatric hospital in Inverness due to a shortage of nurses.
Michael Perera, NHS Highland’s general manager for Mental Health Services, said adult admissions to the 54-bed facility had to be resticted in order to maintain a high quality and safe environment for all staff, patients and visitors.
Mr Perera said six beds have been closed to new patients because a high number of staff were off sick.
It leaves only six beds free for new admissions.
He said: “We have had to reduce our adult admission bed complement from 54 to 48 for the month of August in order to maintain a high quality and safe environment for all staff, patients and visitors.
“At the moment 42 of our inpatient beds are in use but this temporary restriction will mean that we will not be able to take admissions from out of area.
"The situation will be kept under constant review by NHS Highland.”
Mr Perera added: “We have been successful in recruiting to 10 trained nursing posts with staff expected to start in September.
"This will go some way to help alleviate the situation but the shortages we are experiencing are a reflection of what is happening elsewhere in the north of Scotland.”
New Craigs Hospital provides a wide range of mental health care and works closely with community mental health teams. There are also day hospital services provided on site which are continuing as normal.
