UNDER pressure local mental health services are struggling to recruit specialist consultants and nurses.

The area's health and social care convenor has voiced concern about the situation and is calling or action to tackle the staffing crisis.

There are four consultant vacancies currently filled by locums and a shortage of staff on wards.

This means agency nurses are having to be drafted in as demand on inpatient services grows.

The rising pressure comes hot on the heels of a new model being put in place to send patients in need of mental health care to a new unit in Glasgow, instead of going to Inverclyde Royal.

Health and social care convenor Councillor Robert Moran said: "I am concerned about this because recruitment is used time and time again as a reason to move services.

"I want the health board to take action over this.

"We know with Covid-19 there is going to be an increase in people needing mental health services.

"Surely staff should be go where the need is greatest?

"We have lost too many local health services because of this.

"People from Inverclyde are now expected to travel many miles for appointments."

The health and social care partnership director Louise Long admits there are both historic and current recruitment issues within the sector, 'across all disciplines'.

She said: "Consultant recruitment is difficult, with three posts filled by locums and one by an acting consultant, with a further vacancy due in February 2021.

"Recruitment drives to these posts have been unsuccessful to date and are ongoing."

Inpatient nursing staff are having to be complemented by supplementary staffing on a shift-by-shift basis to manage shortfalls.

The crisis comes at a time when there are 'high levels of clinical activity and staff sickness levels'.

Inverclyde HSCP has set out changes to mental health services, with a new assessment unit at Leverndale in Glasgow set up for people who are distressed but not in need of physical care.

Health and social care bosses say they recognise the need for a local service and are looking at delivering a community-led operation during the week, with patients travelling to Glasgow out of hours and at weekends only.

An Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership spokesman said: "Over the last two years additional investment has allowed recruitment of more consultants, doctors, nursing and social care staff within the service.

"In 2020/21, this has helped to support our response to Covid-19 and stabilise the workforce.

"However, in Inverclyde and across the country there are some challenges in recruiting to specialist medical roles.

"A national recruitment campaign is underway to recruit consultants and we are hopeful that there will be a positive response, although interviews are still to take place.”