NHS Tayside has been accused of clinical negligence for failing to perform adequate checks on patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a procedure involving electrical stimulation of the brain. The health board, currently facing a public inquiry over a neurosurgeon's alleged misconduct, admitted to not conducting detailed assessments before or after administering ECT.
This failure means doctors were unable to determine if patients truly required the treatment, if it was effective, or if they experienced any adverse side effects. Dr. John Read, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London, stated that these omissions constitute clinical negligence, describing them as "basic, crucial steps."
ECT is typically used as a last resort for severe depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The treatment, which can cause side effects like confusion and memory loss, has its effectiveness debated. While severe complications are rare, modern ECT involves administering a general anesthetic before applying an electrical current of 70 to 120 volts through the brain.
New clinical standards were implemented in Scotland in 2023 to ensure patient safety. However, a recent report by the Scottish ECT Audit Network found that NHS Tayside, which administered ECT more frequently than any other health board in 2025, did not comply with these guidelines. In 2025, ECT was given to 7.2 people per 100,000 population in NHS Tayside, compared to 2.8 per 100,000 in NHS Highland.
According to the report, all patients undergoing ECT should be assessed for illness severity and memory function prior to treatment to monitor for cognitive side effects. NHS Tayside acknowledged "poor compliance" with this standard, with assessments missing in approximately one-third of cases. Furthermore, another standard requires patients to be reviewed after every two ECT treatments to evaluate effectiveness and check for memory impact. NHS Tayside met this requirement in only about 5% of cases.
Dr. Read criticized the lack of baseline cognitive function assessments, preventing monitoring for any potential damage. He also noted that the absence of post-treatment reviews means potential memory loss might go undetected and that treatment may continue when it should be stopped. "This can't be allowed to continue," he urged.
NHS Tayside stated that it has taken steps to address these failings and is showing "improvements in compliance." A spokesperson for the health board indicated that new documentation was introduced in January to standardize procedures, enhance clinical oversight, and ensure clarity. NHS Tayside remains under scrutiny for an unrelated public inquiry into alleged harms caused by brain surgeon Sam Eljamel.