A WEST Kilbride family have renewed their plea to bring home their son who they say is “trapped” in an Ayrshire psychiatric ward – more than three years after he was admitted.
Fraser Malcolm has a rare genetic condition as well as a learning disability, with the 20-year-old also having limited speech.
He was admitted to Woodland View Hospital in Irvine in 2021 after acting aggressively towards his family.
Fraser was admitted under advice from social workers and the police, but was sectioned under the Mental Health Act soon after.
His family say they have been left unable to make crucial decisions about his care, and claim that doctors at the hospital are "in complete control" of Fraser’s welfare.
Fraser’s dad Andrew is now marking three years since Fraser was “locked in hospital”, and has issued a fresh appeal for support.
He explained: “Fraser went in for an assessment in March 2021 and has been in there ever since.
“Instead of getting better during his time there he has regressed and hasn’t been outside since June last year.
“Fraser was hugely active with his family, and took part in sailing and horse riding, but now he can’t even leave his room at the hospital.
“We did a BBC documentary in 2022 and have held protests at the Scottish Parliament, but it very quickly became old news.
“Fraser turns 21 this year and we want to get him back out into the world so he can get on with his life.”
Andrew says the North Ayrshire health and social care partnership, which runs the facility, has told the family that they have been unable to recruit a care team, or secure housing, so that Fraser can leave.
He said: “They say they are unable to recruit a care team and there is no housing, so if they wanted him to leave there would be nothing for him to go to.
“We have offered to take him home with us, but he needs his own place to be independent with carers who understand his needs.
“Fraser is now also holding himself back. He is so terrified of coming off the ward that even the idea of getting him out seems remote.
“We have complained to MSPs and to the health board about it, but we don’t want apologies, we want action.”
The family say that they regret ever admitting Fraser to the facility in the first place, admitting it has robbed the young man of a key stage of his life.
Andrew added: “Fraser was struggling to come to terms with all his services shutting down during the second lockdown and that’s led us to where we are today.
“We didn’t know he was going to be sectioned and we regret ever asking for help. He has missed birthdays, the birth of his niece and many Christmases.
“Animals and prisoners in this country have got more rights than Fraser has. It’s honestly heartbreaking.
“We’re in Scotland in 2024 and you just wonder how this can happen.”
A North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “Whilst we cannot comment on individual patient circumstances, we can provide an update in relation to our approach in Ayrshire and Arran.
“North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (NAHSCP) continues to engage with families and patients to ensure effective discharge planning solutions are identified at the earliest opportunity.
"We share the ambition for people to be cared for at home, or as close to home as possible, and to minimise all hospital stays.
"There are ongoing challenges locally and across Scotland in the capacity, availability and variety of community-based care options for individuals with complex support needs.
“Our Ayrshire and Arran inpatient hospital, Woodland View, is a purpose designed, community-based state of the art mental health facility providing high quality therapeutic provision to enable positive rehabilitation opportunities in the process of discharge planning and transition to community placements.
“In North Ayrshire we have proactively developed a number of local service models to support the needs for complex community support, including supported accommodation developments and the development of an Intensive Support Team, which will prevent admission, promote earlier discharge, build community capacity and support repatriation planning of people who have previously been placed out of area and wish to return to their home localities.
"These developments, together with continuing to work with community-based care providers, provides us with alternative options to offer patients and families.”
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