New recruit to cut mental health waiting times

NHS SHETLAND has appointed a new consultant clinical psychologist in a bid to address its long waiting list for mental health support.

Franco Follina, who will work in the adult part of the service, will take up his new role in November.

The health board hopes that the appointment of a new consultant clinical psychologist will see waiting lists reduce in size.

NHS Shetland director of community health and social care Simon Bokor-Ingram confirmed that training body National Education Scotland would contribute towards the cost of the post.

“We are delighted that we have been able to recruit a consultant clinical psychologist who is due to take up their post in Shetland in November,” he said.

“We have a cohort of patients who are waiting for a psychology intervention, and from November we will be able to offer a more comprehensive mental health service.”

Last year NHS Shetland bolstered its mental health team when they appointed Martin Scholtz as the new consultant psychiatrist after admitting failing to meet targets.

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Patients have regularly spoken out publicly about feeling left behind by the isles’ mental health department as they wait for appointments.

Earlier this month, new NHS data revealed that waiting times for young people to access mental health support in Shetland were among the longest in Scotland.

NHS Shetland responded by saying staff sickness and a growing number of referrals accounted for the figures, with no young people currently waiting more than the target 18 weeks for treatment.