§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many possible suicides there have been among patients attending Parkhead hospital since the hospital opened; what assessment he has made of security and staffing levels at Parkhead hospital; and if he will make a statement. [13211]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonSince 1993, when formal arrangements for the recording of suicides at Parkhead hospital were introduced, there have been five in-patient suicides.
It is fundamental to the treatment of patients with mental illness that, when ever possible, a therapeutic environment is provided with a level of security appropriate to the individual. The agreed level of staffing, observation and other precautions taken to prevent suicide are matters for clinicians to determine.
Nurse staffing levels at Parkhead hospital have increased from 122 in October 1995 to a current level of 135. The hospital has 122 beds and the nurse-patient ratio is therefore at a high level.