NHS say sorry to Ladyfield abuse victims

A FULL and unreserved apology has been given by NHS Dumfries and Galloway to the victims of historic child abuse at the Ladyfield centre in Dumfries. It was delivered at a hearing last year of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which was looking into events at the former children’s residential psychiatric unit in the town. Attending for the NHS was chief executive Julie White and her comments have just come to light after they were published in a recent report for the health board. Ms White was representing NHS Dumfries and Galloway in relation to allegations made against the NHS Board of its care within the Ladyfield estate. It is stated that she: “Acknowledged the conditions the children and young people experienced were totally unacceptable and offered a full and unreserved apology on behalf of the board to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and those individuals affected.” According to documents from the Crichton Trust, “Ladyfield East and West stayed in the ownership of the NHS, in use until the 2010s.” And it was noted at the hearing that NHS Dumfries and Galloway no longer have inpatient mental health care facilities for children and young people, with these services now being accessed in the Glasgow area. Assurance was duly provided that even when any youngster goes outwith the region for treatment, the local clinicians involved in their care maintain responsibility for them. Furthermore, NHS Dumfries and Galloway have various processes in place, including specific mandatory training for staff and staff supervision; a children and young people’s forum where issues can be raised; and PVG and Disclosure checks on all staff. There are also ‘robust processes’ in place to deal with any allegations of poor practice by clinicians.

• Pictured: the Ladyfield area