THE use of restraint at a Dundee young people’s mental health unit was inadequate and improvements are needed, inspectors have concluded.

NHS Tayside’s Dudhope unit was inspected in October 2025, the second of Scotland’s three young people’s units to be examined by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) by then social care minister Maree Todd.

The probe came after a BBC Scotland investigation raised allegations of cruelty at Glasgow’s Skye House.

No such allegations have been made at the 12-bed Dundee unit, with inspectors noting “nurturing and caring” interactions between staff and patients, but found “key clinical information around significant events, such as restraint, was not being recorded adequately in clinical records” and a lack of trained staff.

In a joint statement, HIS chief executive Robbie Pearson and MWC chief executive Julie Paterson said: “We saw positive examples of a supportive senior management team, who provided a positive working environment for staff to enable them to do their job.

“However, we also found things that need to be improved. This includes risks in how clinical information is recorded, persistent gaps in specialist staff, a lack of adequate staff training and delays in maintaining a safe environment.”

An NHS Tayside spokesperson said: “A comprehensive action plan has been developed to address the areas of improvements and requirements that were identified.

“We are pleased to see that inspectors also noted several areas of good practice in the report, such as observing that all young people were treated with dignity and kindness, and observing encouraging and compassionate interactions between staff and young people.”

Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “Staff commitment is clear, but urgent action is needed to ensure care meets the standard young people deserve.”