'Appalling' hospital is slammed by report.

Byline: GRACE McLEAN

PATIENTS in one of Scotland's largest mental hospitals are living in "appalling" conditions.

Health watchdogs have described the hospital as "barren, dismal and unacceptable".

The Scottish Health Advisory Council have called for Gartnavel Royal in Glasgow, to be closed or upgraded immediately.

Dr Fiona Lang, who headed the SHAC team, said patients' health was being put at risk by damp wards.

And she said patients were being locked in wards and living in a "barren and dismal" environment.

The report said: "We recommend that the trust relocate this unit as a matter of urgency or that it identifies the necessary resources to allow for the unit's immediate upgrade."

The blistering attack was made in the Review of Adult Mental Health services in Glasgow and blames underfunding for the problems.

But staff at Gartnavel were praised as being "highly motivated and impressive".

The report continued: "Despite the best efforts of staff, it is unacceptable that patients are cared for in such a dismal and unsatisfactory environment."

A spokeswoman for Greater Glasgow Primary Care Trust admitted work needed to be done.

She said: "We readily acknowledge that some of our in-patient accommodation needs to be improved.

"The report made a number of specific recommendations and we are already working to achieve them."