Rachael Hamilton MSP has criticised the Scottish Government over new figures which show more than half of young people referred for mental health treatment are not seen on time in the Borders.
The latest figures show that in September 2020, 53% of young people were not seen within the target time of 18 weeks from referral to treatment, representing 114 patients.
This is a sharp rise on the same figures last year, where all patients were seen within the 18 week window.
The Borders is not alone. Across Scotland, waiting times statistics show that the SNP are missing child mental health waiting targets by a third, with only just over 60 per cent being seen within 18 weeks, well below the SNP Government’s target time of 90 per cent of patients.
A total of 959 patients had been waiting over a year to begin treatment as of September, which was an increase of 360 patients from the same point in 2019.
Mrs Hamilton has expressed grave concern over these figures, given the additional impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on young people’s mental health.
She has called on the SNP Government to properly resource NHS Borders to cope with the increased demand for mental health treatment.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“These figures lay bare the mental health crisis facing young people across the Borders.
“Even before the pandemic, the SNP were routinely missing waiting time targets and the effect of lockdown is exacerbating the situation.
“NHS Borders staff and nurses are working flat out to help young people who require mental treatment, and the SNP Government must provide them with additional resources to help them cope.
“Almost 1,000 vulnerable young patients waiting over a year for treatment from across Scotland is shocking and the SNP need to get a grip of the worsening situation”.