Key mental health target missed

Nearly two-thirds of young people in the Forth Valley, who are struggling with their mental health, are not being seen within the target time.

New figures show NHS Forth Valley has missed a key child mental health waiting time target.

38% began treatment within 18 weeks, between October and December 2022.

That's well below the target of 90%.

Meanwhile, one in eight are waiting over a year to begin treatment.

A statement obtained by Central FM from NHS Forth Valley reads:

NHS Forth Valley has redesigned the way local CAMHS services are designed and delivered as well as investing in additional staff to help reduce waiting times.

We are starting to see the positive impact of these changes* and on track to meet the national waiting times target of 90% by Summer 2023. around 70% waiting over 36 weeks Jan ‘22 to approx. 70% waiting under 36 weeks, Dec ‘22

Our CAMHS team is continuing to focus on seeing patients who have been waiting the longest and those children with significant mental health difficulties who require urgent assessment and treatment.

We are working alongside partners in local council children’s services to increase access to new community-based services which aim make it quicker and easier for children and young people to access mental health support at an early stage. Following a successful pilot project, work is underway to roll out a new service to give young people access to Primary Care Mental Health Workers in GP Practices across Forth Valley.

*In January 2022 around 70% of children and young people waited over 36 weeks however by the end of the year the number of long waits had reduced significantly and by December 2022 70% were waiting under 36 weeks.