Call for urgent action to address CAMHS

Date: 26th August 2014
Category: Mental health

New figures released by the Information Services Division of National Services Scotland indicate that the vast majority of Health Boards are currently failing to meet a 26-week waiting time target for treatment from specialist child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS).

The figures released by the Information Services Division of National Services Scotland (part of NHS Scotland) on 26th August 2014 cover the quarter from April to June 2014. The 26-week waiting time target for CAMHS was introduced in March 2013. Figures indicate that many Health Boards are at risk of missing a Scottish Government target of an 18-week waiting target which comes into force in December 2014.

Only 5 of the 14 Health Boards have currently achieved this 26-week waiting time target from March 2013. Only 4 of the 14 Health Boards currently achieve the 18-week target.

On the back of these figures, the Scottish Children's Services Coalition (SCSC) has renewed its call to the Scottish Government for urgent action to ensure that NHS Health Boards achieve waiting time targets for children and adolescent services.

In its 2008 Concluding Observations to the UK, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended that additional resources and improved capacities be employed to meet the needs of children with mental health problems throughout the country, with particular attention to those at greater risk, including children deprived of parental care, children affected by conflict, those living in poverty and those in conflict with the law.

Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) requires that UK Governments recognise the right of every child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.

• Click here for the full SCSC news release.