LABOUR will use a Holyrood debate to urge the Scottish Parliament to back a public inquiry across all NHS Tayside mental health services.
Bosses at the health board have ordered an independent inquiry into a psychiatric unit which turned away a man seeking help who then took his own life.
The inquiry was announced after Labour leader Richard Leonard raised the case of David Ramsay at First Minister’s Questions last week.
Mr Ramsay, 50, took his own life in 2010, four days after he was twice rejected for treatment at the Carseview Centre at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital.
Now Labour wants a full public inquiry into mental health services across the whole region.
The party highlighted that cases of concern would fall outside the current review, including that of Lee Welsh, who took his own life in 2017.
Mr Leonard raised Mr Welsh’s case during his conference speech in March when he first backed the calls for a public inquiry.
Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “Holyrood must listen to the families of Tayside and back a full public inquiry into mental health services.
“The tragic case of David Ramsay was not an isolated incident. There are clear problems with mental health services across the region. It is not confined to one unit in one hospital.”
He added: “These families deserve answers. Only a full, independent public inquiry can deliver that.”
Families who have been affected by mental health services in NHS Tayside will be in the public gallery to watch the debate.
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