10.10.11
Long delays in mental health care for children
Mental health care for children in Scotland can be delayed as long as three and a half years, Conservative MSP Mary Scanlan discovered through a freedom of information request.
The waiting times for child psychology treatment ranged from 16 weeks in Dumfries and Galloway, to 182 weeks in Tayside. The Scottish Government has a 26 week target for waiting times.
Scanlan said: “That a child in need of mental health treatment could be asked to wait for three and a half years to be seen is shocking. Immediate action must be taken to reduce these waiting times as we simply cannot afford to neglect the mental health of Scottish children.”
A Scottish government spokesman said: “We are committed to improving the speed of access to specialist child and adolescent mental health services. We have been investing in specialist services to ensure children and young people are supported in the community as far as possible.
“We have also invested in increasing the specialist child and adolescent workforce - equating this year to £5.5m of ring-fenced money for specialist services.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]