But changes are on the agenda for the future of mental health services in Argyll and Bute, and patients, staff and members of the public on Bute got a chance this week to say what they think those services should look like.

On hand at a drop-in day at the Pavilion last Wednesday was a team from the consultancy firm Research and Development in Mental Health (RDMH), who came to Rothesay for the last in a series of drop-in days across Argyll and Bute.

Also present was consultant psychiatrist Dr Grace Fergusson, the clinical director for mental health with the Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP), who explained:

"At this stage we are simply asking people 'what do you need from mental health services?', not saying how you could get it - that will come later.

"For now these public responses will be used as the basis to shape various options for appraisal later in the year, and these options will then go out for public consultation.

"We want our future approach to focus on what people can do to help themselves, and what can be done to help people in the community, although we do recognise that some people do still need access to in-patient services.

"As ever the balance is between spending money on in-patient facilities versus spending money on community-based services - we need to try to work out where the need is, and what intervention we can afford.

"Most of the issues raised by people at these drop-in events have been primarily local ones."

Chief among the concerns raised at the Rothesay drop-in day were a possible shortage of in-patient facilities as a result of the planned closure of both Argyll and Bute Hospital in Lochgilphead and Ravenscraig in Greenock, and the future provision of support for people who care for those with mental health needs.

For those who were unable to attend the drop-in event or who perhaps did not feel comfortable discussing their concerns face-to-face, the CHP has designed a questionnaire aimed at allowing as many people as possible to contribute their thoughts.

Copies of the questionnaire have already been distributed to patient and community groups, hospitals and health centres, and can also be found online at www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/CHP/ArgyllandBute/Pages/MentalHealthReview.aspx - the deadline for replies is Friday, May 16, and all responses will be anonymous.