KEY KIDS’ HEALTH TARGET MISSED

A TREATMENT target for child mental health treatment has been breached by more than 1.2million days since it was set, shocking figures reveal today.

The SNP Government pledged to hit the 18-week referral to treatment target in December 2014.

Mental health minister Maureen Watt admitted last night she’s “disappointed” not all NHS regions have hit the benchmark of 90 per cent of patients being seen on time.

The Lib Dems, who highlighted the performance, said vulnerable youngsters are being l et do wn.

Alex Cole Hamilton, the party’s health spokesman, said: “We knew that performance against the flagship mental health target was bad but to breach it by more than 1.2million days is an appalling revelation.

“That means those children for whom the target is missed are on average waiting a further 120 days for the treatment they desperately need.

“We have identified young people waiting up to two years for help.” He said cash allocated in the recent budget “does not come close” to addressing the problem.

Watt said investment is being made in staff and the wider service.

She added: “The draft budget includes increased investment in mental health, including child and adolescent mental health – and we are determined to reduce waiting times.”