In the week when staff
at the Mental Welfare Commission vetoed a move to relocate the operation from Edinburgh to
Falkirk, the JT has gained exclusive access to a clinician report on the deep
psychological problems which mean that an agency charged with supervising the care of
people with mental health problems throughout Scotland won’t be moving anytime
soon."Patient "MWC" initially appeared quite calm and lucid , until
the word "Falkirk" was mentioned. Patient then became very agitated and
confabulated a narrative justifying the patient’s wish to remain based in Edinburgh.
Manifested extreme delusional behaviours and utterances claiming that Falkirk was too far
away from Edinburgh, the seat of government.
Intervention by the clinician to the effect that Falkirk was only 20 miles from the
capital and enjoyed fast transit links stimulated an aggressive denial response with the
patient covering ears and going "La, la, la!, I’m not listening" etc. When
challenged on the need for an agency, with a Scotland-wide remit, to be based in
Edinburgh, patient manifested acute dissociative behaviours, claiming that Falkirk
didn’t have one decent deli and vital supplies of virgin olive oil were likely to be
unavailable leading to unacceptable stress levels when the patient was hosting dinner
parties in The New Town.
Clinician recommendation that the patient undergo a regime of cognitive therapy to
reduce anxiety levels and cope with rational change met with open hostility with the
patient declaring : "Oh no. I know what you head doctors are like. It's cognitive
therapy one week and then the next thing I know I wake up on Falkirk High Street with no
decent clothes shops."
My diagnosis is that the patient is very adept at exercising a clause in the Mental
Health Act that allows the MWC to remain in Edinburgh simply because it suits their social
life. Putting a name to this chronic condition is very difficult but I would think it
falls under the general rubric of taking the piss."
