WEDNESDAY, 25 MARCH, 2026

Photograph attached: Lindsey Bailie, General Manager for Inpatient Learning Disability Services, with staff at the LDAU in Rannoch Ward

First patients move to new learning disability ward at Murray Royal Hospital

The first phase of the Learning Disability Inpatient Transition programme is now complete with the opening of a new assessment unit at Murray Royal Hospital.

Staff and patients moved from the former Learning Disability Assessment Unit (LDAU) at Carseview Centre to the newly refurbished Rannoch Ward at Murray Royal on Tuesday, 24 March.

The new ward provides an improved environment for patients, with a sensory room, gym equipment, extensive grounds and outdoor space, and close links with psychology, occupational therapy and activity teams on site. There is also a café and courtyard area at the hospital entrance where patients can enjoy a snack and a coffee and spend time with family members and visitors.

Lindsey Bailie, General Manager for Inpatient Learning Disability Services, said, “We’re excited for the LDAU to be moving into Rannoch Ward and making use of all the facilities here. The teams have been on a real journey over the past couple of years and I’m pleased that we’ve reached this positive outcome for the staff and their patients.

“There has been a huge amount of planning by many different teams to reach this stage and we are very grateful for their involvement in this work.” 

It was agreed in July 2025 that there would be a phased approach to the ward moves, with the LDAU moving from Carseview Centre to Rannoch Ward in phase one and Flat 1 at Strathmartine Centre moving to Faskally Ward in the second phase.

An operational group was established to plan and manage the practical steps needed for the moves, which had representation from a number of different services. This included nursing, medical, allied health professionals, digital, HR, pharmacy, procurement, property, site support and staff side colleagues.

The multidisciplinary teams developed individual patient transition plans covering the practicalities of what each patient needed to move and discussions took place with patients around what would help them to settle in and what activities they will be doing in the new wards. Work has also been ongoing between inpatient services and the three Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) to secure community placements for patients ready for discharge in advance of the move.

Plans for the move of Flat 1, Strathmartine to Faskally ward in Rohallion Clinic are currently being finalised and a date for the move will be confirmed with staff and patients once agreed.

The Behavioural Support Intervention Unit (BSIU) will remain at Strathmartine while work is ongoing with inpatient services and the HSCPs to develop a new community model of care for people with a learning disability in Tayside.

Background

Following feedback from the Mental Welfare Commission’s visit to Strathmartine Centre in 2024, an operational decision was made to expedite the move of inpatient learning disability services to a single site at Murray Royal Hospital.

Work has been ongoing for the past 18 months to plan for the move to Murray Royal and there has been regular communications and engagement with staff, patients and their families and carers.

One-to-one meetings were held with all staff who are impacted by the moves to discuss their options and explore what support is required for those who are able to move with their patients.

Families and carers were given the opportunity to visit Murray Royal to see the accommodation ahead of the moves and meetings were held at the Dundee Carers Centre to allow them to find out more about the plans and ask any questions they may have.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718