THE mental health minister has intervened in a "crisis" at Scotland's State Hospital after patients have reportedly assaulted a number of staff.
Carstairs employees have been urged to adopt a work-to-rule from Saturday amid safety concerns.
It has emerged Clare Haughey has had a meeting with the Carstairs chief executive James Crichton calling for ongoing issues to be resolved.
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon has written to health secretary Jeane Freeman asking for her intervention following reports the protest undertaken by staff followed a violent attack that left member of staff unconscious and requiring hospital treatment.
Earlier this week staff received an anonymous text message urging them to work-to-rule during “extremely challenging circumstances” and to refuse overtime and time off in lieu.
The text said: “Given the extremely challenging circumstances we are facing in the current climate, it is now time to take action.
“From Saturday the 3rd of November, as a show of defiance and solidarity, can all staff not work any overtime or toil and stick to their contractual duties – yes, a work-to-rule. Send this on to your work colleagues and an update will follow.”
In the wake of the message, Unison called an emergency meeting with staff at the hospital.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Minister for Mental Health, Clare Haughey, has already spoken with the CEO of Carstairs and made clear her expectation that they meaningfully engage with their frontline staff, including union representatives, to resolve any ongoing issues.”
Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport, Monica Lennon MSP, said: “The reported wave of attacks on hardworking NHS staff at Carstairs is deeply distressing.
“With the undertaking of a work-to-rule protest underway, they clearly feel that their concerns are not being dealt with.
“We have a staffing crisis across our NHS with vacancies soaring amid the health service’s budget being cut in real terms last year by the SNP.
“I have written to the Health Secretary urging her to take swift action to give the State Hospital the resources it needs to protect staff and patients.
“This crisis simply cannot be allowed to continue.”
The text was reportedly sent in the aftermath of another assault on a staff member by a patient.
The worker, who was attacked on Tuesday, October 23, was said to have been knocked unconscious and taken by ambulance to Wishaw General Hospital.
The State Hospitals Board for Scotland said last month several of the facility’s security measures were to be “renewed, refreshed and enhanced”. They were inviting bids from highly-experienced security firms for the two-year contract, worth around £5million.
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