Murdo Fraser MSP has slammed the SNP Government for “churning out data” rather than explain why a Perthshire teenager could face waiting more than three years for help with mental health issues.
The Scottish Conservative politician raised the concerning issue with Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, earlier this week during a Portfolio Question on NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care at Holyrood, when he described the situation regarding the length of waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services as being a “crisis.”
Mr Fraser said he was “very disappointed” with the response from the Minister.
Commenting, he said: “I felt that Maree Todd gave a poor response to my question, when I asked her what she was going to do about addressing the situation of a teenage constituent of mine who could have to face waiting almost three years to be assessed by The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Perth. The teenager was originally referred by her GP to CAMHS back in June 2021 and requires further assessment.
“She was told that she would be placed on a waiting list by CAMHS but it looks like this may take a year to take place, meaning she will be approaching 18, the age of an adult, by the time she has a formal diagnosis.”
Mr Fraser continued: “All we heard from the Minister today was her churning out data on CAMHS waiting times and using soundbites like saying the SNP Government is providing ‘tailored support’ to the service – a very disappointing response indeed.
“I raised the point with the Minister that we learnt earlier this week that the SNP Government pledge to recruit an additional 1,000 nurses to expand the health service have not been met.
“This is now a crisis situation and badly needs to be resolved. We need to hear more than just talk and percentage data from the Minister – we need concrete action.”
