A PRIVATE psychiatric hospital has been told it must make improvements in a "significant number" of areas following a damning inspection from Scotland's healthcare watchdog.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland said patients at Monroe House in Dundee, a 26-bed facility that offers care to adults with learning disabilities, associated mental health problems and challenging behaviour, were not always treated with dignity and respect.

Inspectors witnessed workers "speaking sharply", shouting down corridors, talking in a manner they did not consider respectful and entering bedrooms without knocking.

Morale among staff at the facility was said to be "generally low" while inspectors were not satisfied that quality assurance processes were robust enough.

While overall care and support was graded as good, the quality of management and leadership was classed only as adequate, along with the quality of the environment. The quality of staffing was graded as weak.

Susan Brimelow, chief ­inspector, said: "This inspection resulted in eight requirements and six recommendations which Monroe House must address as a matter of priority. We will follow up these concerns at future inspections."

A spokesperson for the ­hospital, run by Danshell Adult Healthcare, said: "Nothing is more important to us than the health and wellbeing of the people we support. We work closely with HIS and other relevant authorities to ensure we provide a good, safe service.

"The report made clear requirements and recommendations which we have been working towards and completing through a comprehensive action plan."