A CITY mental health ward have been praised for their work on a new pilot scheme on patient safety.

Launched in 2012, the mental health section of the Scottish Patient Safety scheme is now being implemented across 14 wards in Glasgow.

It is the world's only national patient safety programme for people with mental illness and aims to boost patient involvement in decision making, work on medication safety, wider used of safety briefings at the beginning of shifts, and less use of restraint.

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, visited Gartnavel's Rutherford unit where staff are using the initiative and praised their work.

He said: "It was fascinating to meet staff and patients at Rutherford ward, and to see some of the changes that have taken place.

"The patient safety programme for mental health is about trying to identify new ways to make patients, and staff, safer. Some of the ideas they've come up with could well be of benefit to similar wards around the country."

When the pilot scheme finishes next year, best practice and feedback from wards trialling the initiative will be shared across the country.

Dr Michael Smith, NHSGGC Lead Associate Medical Director for Mental Health, said: "The Scottish Patient Safety Programme in Mental Health promotes frontline innovation with staff at ward level, and I am delighted that the Minister was able to visit Rutherford Ward today to see how staff have been implementing the programme.

"Patient safety is our first priority, and Rutherford Ward staff have been in the forefront of creating a ward environment that's not just safer, but also more therapeutic.

"The programme has now been rolled out to a total of 14 mental health wards across NHSGGC and NHS staff are working closely with patients and the voluntary sector to make further improvements."