Mental health waiting times remain unacceptably high
3,267 patients waited more than 18 weeks for mental health treatment in the last quarter, according to figures from ISD Scotland.
Statistics released today show that 23 per cent of patients waited over the Scottish Government target of 18 weeks for treatment for mental illness between July and September this year.
The Scottish Government target for the NHS in Scotland is to deliver treatment within a maximum wait of 18 weeks from a patient’s referral to treatment for psychological therapies. This target should be delivered for at least 90 per cent of patients.
This waiting time target is therefore being missed by 13%, despite minor improvement from the previous three months
Scottish Conservative mental health spokeswoman Annie Wells said:
“We are all deeply concerned by these statistics, despite the small improvement.
“Mental health can have a huge impact on individuals, families and society and the Scottish Conservatives have long campaigned that mental health issues should be regarded as just as urgent and debilitating as physical ones.
“Therefore, it is extremely important that patients are treated quickly and effectively.
“It is clear that more needs to be done to improve capacity and staffing across the health service and address these unacceptable waiting times for treatment.
“The Scottish Conservatives would bring forward plans for mental health link workers in GP practices as part of our aim to have specialist mental health support in every GP practice or hub.
“We would also ensure that mental health support is provided in every A&E department on a 24/7 basis and we would implement a referral system for young people who self-harm so that they are able to be seen without delay and referred to a local support group.
“We must ensure that Scots have access to the best possible mental health services that we can provide.”