Waiting times target missed by SNP

ONE in five mental health patients waited longer than the 18-week treatment target set by the Scottish Government two years ago, data has shown.

An analysis by the Liberal Democrats suggested a total of 21,095 people were not treated within the 18-week standard for psychological therapies.

Of those who have been seen since December 2014, 16,386 patients waited longer than this. A further 4709 patients are still on the waiting list and have been there for longer than 18 weeks.

Ahead of the budget this week, Scottish Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton has called for a mental health professional to be available in every GP surgery and for mental health to be made a priority.

He said: “Not only has this 18-week treatment target been missed since the day it was introduced, it has been missed by a longshot. One in five people – more than 20,000 patients – have waited longer than promised.

“We need to see a step change in the way we treat mental health and the Scottish Government must take it much more seriously.

“We cannot continue to miss these targets and tolerate thousands of patients waiting months, in some cases even years, for treatment. We have laid out clear plans which would see mental health care finally placed on the same footing as physical health.”