NHS Forth Valley pledge action as 600 remain waiting for vital CAMHS support

dailyrecord.co.uk:

NHS Forth Valley chiefs have defended their efforts to cut the CAMHS waiting times backlog as more than 600 still wait for support.The latest figures from Public Health Scotland have revealed that a total of 616 children and young people were on the list for help at the end of 2021 - with only 17.4 per cent of these waiting the guideline of 18 weeks or fewer.The shocking data shows that almost 40 per cent of people on the CAMHS waiting list in Forth Valley have been on hold for more than a year, with another 21.3 per cent waiting between nine months and a year for help.It represents the lowest percentage across Scotland’s health boards and sits significantly below the national average of 54 per cent waiting 18 weeks or fewer.Meanwhile, a total of 111 people were seen in the three-month period from October to December 2021 in Forth Valley, with 57.7 per cent of these within the target time.An NHS Forth Valley spokesperson stressed that a “redesign” of the service - which went live in January - is hoped to deliver better results in clearing the backlog of those stuck in the system.The spokeswoman also said the health board was working to improve access to community based services, including a partnership with GP practices to allow young people to access primary care mental health workers.A new collaboration with a local independent provider will also help with improving the CAMHS service’s capacity.The NHS Forth Valley spokesperson said: “In NHS Forth Valley our CAMHS team are continuing to focus on seeing patients who have been waiting the longest and those children with significant mental health difficulties who require urgent assessment and treatment.“We continue to experience an increase in unscheduled care