MORAY’S acute mental health ward does not meet standards designed to prevent patients hurting themselves, a meeting last week heard, as senior figures fear inspectors may “lose patience” and sanction the hospital.

NHS Grampian was promised cash by the Scottish Government for safety improvements at Ward 4, along with a new MRI scanner, but both projects were “paused indefinitely” in January this year.

The Scottish Government predicted a two-year delay to works, according to Dr Gray’s Hospital general manager Alasdair Pattinson, speaking at a meeting of Moray’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB).

The IJB, a joint-effort between NHS Grampian and Moray Council that operates health and social care, also heard that Ward 4 building falls short of health and safety guidelines for keeping patients safe.

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