‘Unacceptable’ delays for mental health care

HUNDREDS of people are facing an unacceptable wait to access mental health care, according to the Scottish Conservatives.

The party uncovered figures showing that some adults have had to wait more than two years to access psychological therapy.

It has demanded a vast improvement in the statistics as it questioned the Scottish Government’s commitment to addressing mental health issues. Ministers say mental health spending by the NHS in Scotland has increased by more than 40 per cent in a decade.

The Scottish Government has a target for people to begin psychological therapy within 18 weeks of being referred for treatment.

However, the Scottish Conservatives said statistics obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that at least two health boards have had individuals waiting more than 105 weeks to begin care.

One two-year wait was recorded in NHS Lothian between April and June 2016, while at least one patient in Grampian also waited 105 weeks until beginning therapy between January and March, the Tories said.

There were waits of 104 weeks in Ayrshire and Arran in 2015, 93 weeks in Fife currently and 64 weeks in Glasgow in the last quarter.

Scottish Conservative mental health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “It’s incredible to think anyone would have to wait more than two years to begin treatment for something of such importance.”