Vulnerable children are being let down by delays in referral to treatment time in CAMHS services in North Wales, according to Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Assembly Member for Aberconwy.
The Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service had 92 patients awaiting treatment following referral in February this year [latest figures published]. Of these, over 30% were forced to wait more than 4 weeks to even get an appointment.
One patient waited more than 16 weeks – almost four months.
Janet said: “When children and young people present with a learning development need or mental health concern, it is imperative that they are seen as quickly as possible.
“The sooner treatment can be provided, the better its potential for preventative success.
“What we are seeing, however, is far too many vulnerable young people slipping through the net – being forced to wait a month or more just for their first assessment for treatment.
“Anecdotally, too, I have heard of considerable gaps between initial appointments and follow ups – sometimes as much as 18 months or more.
“This is clearly unacceptable and we are risking the mental and emotional well-being of our children and young people by not making this a priority.
“The Welsh Government must to far more to improve mental health services for this demographic – Wales should be pushing to be a world leader in this regard – not to simply leave a generation behind.”
ENDS
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Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders AM