New rights for Carstairs patients

The right of appeal will be given to some patients at Carstairs

Leading Scottish mental health organisation, SAMH, has welcomed a change in the law which will give new rights to some patients at Carstairs.

From Monday, patients who believe they are "entrapped" at the State Hospital will be given a right of appeal to the Mental Health Tribunal.

They will be able to declare that they are being detained in conditions of excessive security.

If the appeal is granted they will be found suitable accommodation elsewhere.

We owe it to people who are detained in hospital to do our best to help them recover recover Shona Neil SAMH

However, before the tribunal makes the order, it must be satisfied that the patient no longer needs to be detained in the conditions of special security provided at the State Hospital.

Where an order is made, the tribunal can set a time limit of up to three months for the patient to be transferred to an appropriate hospital.

Shona Neil, chief executive of SAMH, said: "We owe it to people who are detained in hospital to do our best to help them recover and move on - that includes making sure that hospital accommodation and facilities are appropriate for people's needs.

"This new right is a big step forward in helping protect the interests of individual patients, and in helping drive forward much needed service development."