WAITING SHAME...
Mental health treatment
only so much they can do whilst the SNP pile more financial pressure on the health board which will have to manage millions of pounds worth of cuts this year.
“Workloads are increasing and staff morale is plummeting and it is patients that are bearing the brunt of the problems through longer waiting times.”
Jeane Freeman, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley said: “The Scottish Government is investing £ 54 million up to 2019- 20 to improve access to CAMHS and psychological therapies. “Crucially this will fund additional staff in frontline services, workforce development to improve the supply of qualified clinicians, and in- depth improvement support for local services for children and adults,” she added
“Scotland was the first country in the UK to have a mental health waiting times target – a sign of how importantly we view this issue and Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt has been clear with Health Boards that any falls in performance, or children experiencing long waits, is simply not good enough.”
“I understand the distress caused when waiting for help and support and it is concerning that there are still a small number of children waiting longer than 18 weeks for services. I do however welcome the considerable improvement in provision backed by Scottish Government funding and in the improvement that has been made in Ayrshire and Arran with 97.4% being seen within 18 week target.”
“I urge the health board to continue its work to ensure that no- one has to wait for help in what is a very difficult time for each person and their friends and family.”
Stephen Brown, Interim Director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said they successfully achieved the national target for CAMHs waiting times for the quarter ending December 2017, with more than 95 per cent of patients being seen within 18 weeks.
He added: “When there is considerable complexity, additional diagnosis may be required. This can involve working in partnership with a range of other agencies within health, social care and education to ensure that the appropriate care is given without risk of vulnerability to a child, young person or their family. This can mean that the national target waiting time is not met. We continually develop our models of care to improve our services and waiting times for patients.
“We strive to deliver services which improve access, intervention and support in its various forms. We apologise to any child, young person or family member who has had to wait forspecialist support and fully recognise the stress this places on families.”