Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson, says the number of children and young people waiting over a year to begin mental health treatment is “appalling”.
Mr Simpson’s call comes after new figures showed that almost 2,000 children and young people across Scotland have been waiting over a year to begin treatment.
At NHS Lanarkshire, the numbers waiting over a year stood at 302 at the end of September. A further 65.8% have waited over 18 weeks to start treatment.
Mr Simpson says the SNP are presiding over a mental health crisis among young people in Lanarkshire and must get a grip of the situation now.
He added that even prior to the pandemic, the SNP had failed to ensure vulnerable young people started treatment as quickly as possible and called on NHS Lanarkshire to be given the resources they need.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP, Graham Simpson said: “These appalling figures should be a source of shame for the SNP.
“There is a mental health crisis among our young people in Lanarkshire and that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“The SNP are simply not doing enough to get on top of this situation. Even before Covid, they were failing to meet key targets on mental health treatment for young people.
“NHS Lanarkshire simply haven’t got the resources they need to treat vulnerable young people as quickly as possible.
“Ministers must use these shocking figures to act urgently and ensure vulnerable young people are not forced to wait unacceptably long for the treatment they desperately need.”
