News / Lengthy waits for mental health support
WAITING times for young people to access mental health support in Shetland earlier this year were among the longest in Scotland, according to new figures.
NHS data released on Tuesday revealed that only 22.7 per cent of people who started child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) treatment between April and June were seen within 18 weeks, which is the national benchmark.
In response, NHS Shetland said staff sickness and a growing number of referrals accounted for the figures. No young people are waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment at present, it confirmed.
The newly published figures showed that a total of 22 new patients were seen between April and June in Shetland, but they had an average wait of nearly half a year. In comparison, NHS Orkney’s average wait was just three weeks.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott described the figures as “very concerning”.
A total of seven health boards failed meet the national target of seeing 90 per cent of patients within 18 weeks, including Borders, Grampian and Lothian, with the seven others reaching the target.
Across Scotland as a whole, 77.6 per cent of patients were seen within 18 weeks during the quarter ending June 2016.
Shetland’s mental health team has regularly come under scrutiny from patients who believe they have been let down by long waiting times.
In 2015, NHS Shetland bolstered staffing after admitting it was failing to meet targets, with a new consultant psychiatrist among the additions.
NHS Shetland’s director of nursing and acute services Kathleen Carolan said the waiting list accrued during the early part of 2016 has now been reduced.
“As previously reported by NHS Shetland, we have a small CAMHS team and at the beginning of 2016 we had staff sickness in the team which meant that we did build up a waiting list in the first three months of 2016,” she said.
“This was also due to the fact that we had a steady increase in the number of referrals to the service during 2015, which is in line with a national increase in demand for CAMHS services.”
Carolan added that a review of the mental health team’s “skill mix” in March meant that the time available for the consultant psychiatrist and clinical psychologist was increased.
“The waiting list has steadily reduced over recent months,” she said.
“The CAMHS team has also put in place a number of improvements including a named nurse for each young person waiting for treatment, an early assessment clinic and group based interventions.
“All of this work has had a positive impact on access to CAMHS and at the time of writing, we do not have any young people waiting over 18 weeks for treatment and the longest waiting time currently for assessment is six weeks.”
Scott said the wellbeing of the isles’ young people is of vital importance and stated he will ensure the local health board continues to improve its waiting times.
“These are very concerning numbers,” he said. “I have met many families and support groups in Shetland who are pressing for quicker attention for loved ones who need to see mental health services.
“I will be pressing for NHS Shetland to respond positively to these figures as mental health services for children and young people are really important.”
Locals are being invited to attend a consultation next week on the Scottish Government’s new mental health strategy, which will act as a blueprint for the next ten years.
The public will get the chance to air their views on how the country should deliver its mental service at Lerwick’s Islesburgh Community Centre on 14 September between 2pm and 5pm.
The government has pledged to spend £150 million over the next five years on a new strategy which will be published later this year.
Shetland Mental Health Forum chairwoman Elsbeth Clark encouraged the public to attend he local consultation.
“This is a real chance to shape the national strategy and assist in the development of local mental health services and we do not want people to miss out on it,” she said.
Those who cannot attend the meeting can submit their views here.
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