Concern for care of young mums sees NHS funds call

NHS FIFE has defended its efforts to address waiting times within clinical psychology and to improve access to psychological therapies as part of work being done to achieve national targets.

The defence was issued after Scottish Health SecretaryAlex Neil was challenged by two prominent Labour politicians over delays in treatment at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Mr Neil, who was due to visit the Victoria yesterday on a private visit, was asked by local MP Gordon Brown to explain why many women in need of oneto-one care are experiencing months of waiting for their treatment for mental health issues. Mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP Claire Baker also called on Mr Neil to “commit to properly funding NHS Fife”.

Ms Baker said that four years after the introduction of a Scottish Government funding formula, NHS Fife is being underfunded to the tune of £12 million.

Having raised the question of delays after being approached by constituents, Mr Brown said he had been told that while patients referred for group treatment or guided self-help have much shorter waiting times, there are greater delays when one-to-one care is needed.

NHS Fife told Mr Brown a large workforce survey has just been completed and that the mental health and psychology services, using these results, will soon be able to improve the responses to referrals by better awareness and focusing on the most appropriate resources.

Mr Brown said: “The concern about delays has been raised by people worried that the mental health care of young mothers in need of treatment is being delayed, at a huge cost to the stability of many families.

“Because one-to-one treatment is lagging, with longer waits than for group care, the patients most in need are losing out most. I hope the minister can ensure there are resources allocated to NHS Fife to ensure this much-needed treatment is available for mothers in particular. These are often young mothers whose health is vital for the care of their children.”

Ms Baker highlighted the funding formula, National Resource Allocation Committee target, introduced by the Scottish Government in 2009. She said NHS Fife has still to receive full funding, as calculated by the formula.

To help it break even, NHS Fife had to receive brokerage of £2.1m from the Government for the past two financial years. This has raised concerns, highlighted by Audit Scotland, that priority could be given to repaying the loans rather than investing in services.

Mrs Baker said: “With the health secretary visiting Victoria Hospital, it is important he informs the people of Fife when it will get the properly-funded health service it deserves.”

Mary Porter, general manager at NHS Fife, said: “NHS Fife is working hard to address the current waiting times within clinical psychology and to improve access to psychological therapies, as part of work being done to achieve the psychological therapies HEAT target.

“All referrals to mental health services are prioritised according to the nature and severity of the presenting problem and with due consideration of the potential risks to individuals and their families.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has set a target for health boards to improve access to psychological therapies by delivering a maximum 18-week waiting time from referral to the start of treatment by December 2014. We are working with all NHS boards, including NHS Fife, to put the necessary systems and resources in place to meet that target.”