Humza Yousaf under pressure after boy waits years for mental health treatment

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Humza Yousaf is under pressure over the shocking case of a 10-year-old boy who has waited years for mental health treatment to start.He was taken to task by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar over the “incompetence” at his debut First Minister’s Questions.Alan Galbraith, from Dumbarton, has been waiting for the entire time that Yousaf was health secretary in Nicola Sturgeon’s Cabinet.Alan’s dad Robert said: “He is really up and down.

He will have days where you won’t get a word out of him. We don’t know what’s happening unless something goes wrong.“I feel like he is just being left.

It doesn’t matter what happens with him.“There has been an array of cancelled appointments. We expected them to give Alan a diagnosis, maybe start medication, something to help but there has been nothing.“All we get when we phone is ‘we’re sorry’.“I cannot begin to understand why Alan has gone from ready to start medication, to back of the queue, especially when it is a matter of mental health, and I really fear for what further delay will mean for him.“We feel constantly let down.“We are very aware of the pandemic but there is just not an answer, all while my son and my family are suffering.”Sarwar said: “For children like Alan and their families, incompetence has consequences, continuity won’t cut it and more of the same isn’t going to improve their lives. “The new First Minister has a lot to get to grips with, so I thought it’s only fair we start with something he should already be across. “There is a mental health crisis affecting children across Scotland but they are struggling to access treatment.“During Humza Yousaf’s time as Health Secretary, more than 11,000 children and young people waited more than the 18-week standard for