Children in certain areas of West Lothian are facing staggering wait times of over 1,000 days to receive care from mental health specialists, as per recent statistics revealed by the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The data, obtained through freedom of information requests, indicates a concerning disparity in access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for young individuals.
Across various health boards, children are experiencing extensive delays in obtaining crucial mental health support. NHS Lothian displayed the poorest performance, with a child enduring a wait of 1,100 days to be seen by professionals this year. Additionally, NHS Lothian, Highland, Lanarkshire, and Orkney had patients waiting for more than a year to commence treatment. Shockingly, one patient at NHS Lothian waited a staggering 1,600 days, while another at NHS Lanarkshire waited 1,086 days. Further, 35 young people at NHS Highland and 16 at NHS Lothian waited over two years for treatment.
Presently, at least 52 patients at NHS Lothian, 33 at NHS Highland, 10 at NHS Lanarkshire, and 25 at NHS Orkney are waiting over a year to embark on CAMHS treatment. In response to these distressing figures, Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has called upon the Scottish Government to establish a top-tier mental health service for young individuals. He emphasised the urgent need to address the prolonged waiting times, expressing concerns over the detrimental impact on the mental well-being of children and adolescents.
In contrast, Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd highlighted that the Scottish Government does not identify with the quoted figures. Todd pointed out that the latest national performance against mental health treatment time targets for children and young people has been commendable, with 89.1% of patients commencing treatment within 18 weeks of referral. Furthermore, she highlighted a reduction in the waiting list for treatment to its lowest point since 2013, with one in two referred individuals now starting treatment within six weeks.
Despite acknowledging the progress made, Todd asserted that extended waits remain unacceptable. She underscored the government’s commitment to augment the mental health budget for the forthcoming financial year to build upon the existing improvements. As the debate continues, ensuring timely and efficient mental health services for all remains a critical priority for the Scottish authorities.