Patients in need of urgent mental health support are now being sent to other hospitals instead of Inverclyde's A&E

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have set up new mental health assessment units as part of their wider response to emergency care during the pandemic.

Those presenting with a crisis or in distress are now assessed in the specialist units, as opposed to going to the local accident and emergency.

Details of the shift were contained in a report which was requested by the local health and social care committee in response to the widespread public concern over recent changes to intensive care at IRH.

In their report the health board said: "New mental health assessment units were created during the coronavirus pandemic with the purpose to divert physically fit people in urgent need of mental health support and assessment directly towards these units and away from emergency departments where their needs would be better met."

Using Scottish Government guidance board bosses aim to support those presenting with a mental health crisis or distress.

Under the new arrangements only those who have a physical medical need which is required to be dealt with first would go to accident and emergency.

Health board bosses say the new units are staffed by mental health professionals at all times.

Their briefing report states that Inverclyde Royal has around 33,000 A&E attendances a year, though this has reduced significantly during the Covid-19 crisis.

A spokesperson for NHS GGC said: "We have recently established two Mental Health Assessment Units at Leverndale and Stobhill Hospitals to support individuals in a mental health crisis.

"This helps divert patients away from emergency departments where people may face longer waits and instead can be seen as quickly as possible.

"People in Inverclyde who require urgent mental health care can still be seen by out-of-hours community psychiatric nurses in their local area.

"They will only be sent to a Mental Health Assessment Unit if this is appropriate and transport will be provided.

"These new units also support the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland.

"We consulted the public, staff and third sector representatives on this new approach and have also received positive feedback from service users and stakeholders involved.

"We continue to review this new model."

Two years ago there were changes to trauma, resulting in around patients with the most serious injuries being taken to either the RAH in Paisley or the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Last year it was announced that GP out-of-hours care at Inverclyde Royal and Greenock Health Centre was being shut down, with all patients travelling to Paisley or Glasgow.

It followed repeated temporary closures while the health board reviewed the service.