LIBERAL Democrats in Devon have blasted the lengthy waiting times for children being referred for mental health treatment.
Information uncovered by the county’s Lib-Dem group has revealed that one in four children referred for treatment is waiting longer than the Government’s 18 week target.
In total, 157 children and young people across the Devon County Council area are waiting longer than they should for treatment, with a further 479 still waiting within the 18-week limit.
‘We’ve now got a picture of what is happening to children and young people waiting for treatment after they’ve been referred by their doctor.
‘If this was an illness, such as cancer, no-one would expect children to wait longer than absolutely necessary to see the specialist.
‘Why then, are 157 Devon children forced to wait to see a psychiatrist or specialist mental health clinician?
‘The fact is that children are waiting too long for mental health treatment.
‘We wouldn’t accept it for other illnesses.
‘We need to make sure all children are seen quickly, certainly within the 18-week target and ideally, quicker than that.’
In a report by the North East and West Devon clinical commissioning group, responsible for buying NHS care, says ‘waiting times are unacceptably long for routine referrals to be seen and commence treatment.
‘The experience of caring for a child who is mentally unwell will be extremely challenging and waits will have the perception of being longer in the life of a child with a feeling of abandonment and isolation.’
Mental health services for children in Devon are provided by Virgin Care.
Jointly, the NHS and Devon County Council purchase children and adolescent mental health services in the county using Virgin Care.
The number of young patients waiting for mental health treatment longer than the 18-week standard has been erratic for the past 12 months information presented to Devon county councillors this month shows.
In April last year 75 per cent of patients were seen within the target, that dropped to 66 per cent in November and by the end of March, managers say there had been an improvement and it had gone up to 84 per cent.
Cllr Brian Greenslade, who serves on Devon’s health and wellbeing scrutiny committee, said: ‘This is why the Liberal Democrats have been right to call for greater priority to be given to mental health services.
‘This performance figure for Devon is really worrying and needs deeper scrutiny.
‘Mental health services need more investment not less.’