MONDAY, 1 JUNE, 2026

Photograph attached: The forensic learning disability inpatient team at Faskally Ward in Murray Royal Hospital. Accompanying video available at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18hFRVyWWv/

New chapter for learning disability services as forensic unit moves to Murray Royal Hospital

Staff and patients from the forensic learning disability service are enjoying a much-improved environment following a move to their new unit at Murray Royal Hospital.

The second phase of the Learning Disability Inpatient Transition programme saw the service relocate from Flat 1 at Strathmartine Centre into the refurbished Faskally Ward in Rohallion Clinic on Wednesday, 27 May.

Patients will benefit from more modern accommodation in the new 10-bed ward, with single ensuite bedrooms, kitchen facilities, internal courtyards and extensive grounds. Rohallion Clinic also has a patient activity and therapy centre called SCAPA which includes a café, library, education room, workshop, art and music rooms, as well as a gym, games hall and outdoor football pitch.

Dr Daniel Wilkes, consultant psychiatrist and Clinical Lead for Learning Disability Services, said, “We’re very excited about the opportunities this move will have for our patients and for improving the quality of care we deliver.

“During this process, we’ve had the opportunity to have lots of important conversations with people about how they want their care to be delivered. Those have been really valuable for us and we want to take that learning forward into this new chapter for learning disability services.

“We want to thank everyone who has been involved in this work, and also our patients and families for engaging and working with us throughout the transition programme.”

The move from Flat 1 to Faskally was the second phase in the Learning Disability Inpatient Transition programme, which followed the move of the Learning Disability Assessment Unit (LDAU) from Carseview Centre to Rannoch Ward at Murray Royal in March.

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.

Lynne Taylor, Executive Director/Chief Officer for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, added, “This move represents another important step in strengthening how we deliver high-quality, patient-centred care as part of our Learning Disability Inpatient Transition programme.

“The relocation of Flat 1 to Faskally reflects our ongoing commitment to ensure we make best use of our facilities and provide an environment that improves both the patient experience and staff working environments.

“I wish to thank all the staff, patients, their families and carers who have worked together to make this happen.”

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 more than 18 months to plan for the move to Murray Royal with input from a number of different services. This included nursing, medical, allied health professionals, digital, HR, pharmacy, procurement, property, site support and staff side colleagues.

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

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. 

Families, carers and patients 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 families and carers to find out more about the plans and ask any questions they may have had.

Inpatient services and the three Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) also worked to secure community placements for patients ready for discharge in advance of the move.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718