MENTAL health patients are languishing too long in secure units due to a shortage of places in community and rehabilitation facilities, a report today reveals.

Inspectors found that there were 61 patients in low security units who were well enough to be discharged but could not move on because there were no beds available in a rehabilitation centre or community-based site.

This was also having a knock on effect on patients who were ready to be downgraded from a medium-secure setting to low-security ward but who faced delays because the beds in low-security sites were all full.

The report, by the Mental Welfare Commission, is the first Scotland-wide report in medium and low security forensic wards.

It stated: "In 24 low secure wards we heard that there were 61 patients waiting to move to either a rehabilitation service or a community setting. We consider that this requires investigation as these delays are potentially resulting in patients remaining in environments in which they are living lives that are excessively restricted; it is also preventing other patients in higher security moving on."

The report identified variations between units in the use of restrictions for patients, while one in five patients said they felt unsafe, or partially unsafe, at times in the ward.

The findings were based on visits to all 46 wards across Scotland and interviews with 165 patients.

Inspectors found that the majority were happy with their care and the staff who looked after them. Risk assessment, care planning, and access to advocacy was also good.

Alison Thomson, Executive Director (Nursing) at the Mental Welfare Commission said:

“Many of our findings are good, including positive comments from patients about the staff who care for them, and good access to advocacy and psychological services. This is welcome.

“But we were concerned about the human rights of patients who are being held in conditions of excessive security due to a lack of suitable places to move on to...This backlog in moving people to the least restrictive situation must be addressed.”

Meanwhile, the number of mental health officers in Scotland increased by 5.4 per cent year -on-year, to 722 in December 2016. However, two thirds of local authorities were still reporting shortages and an extra 36 full-time MHOs are needed in Scotland as a whole.