Young Scots wait over a year for treatment

A total of 221 young Scots have been waiting more than a year for specialist help with mental health problems, new figures have shown.

NHS statistics also disclosed there were 197 cases where children with such conditions were treated on adult wards in 2017-18.

In 255 cases, patients were admitted to specialist child and adolescent units for treatment.

The figures on inpatient admissions were classed as “management information only” as they have not been assessed by statistical regulators.

They were released at the same time as official data showing just four out of 14 health boards in Scotland met the target of having 90 per cent of youngsters accepted by child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) start treatment within 18 weeks.

Over the period July to September, 4,239 patients started receiving treatment.

More than two thirds (69 per cent) were seen within the target time.

While NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles all achieved the standard, in NHS Tayside only 35.8 per cent received help within 18 weeks – the lowest in Scotland.