Scotland is in the grip of a mental health crisis as new figures reveal almost 1,000 children and young people have been waiting for over a year to begin vital treatment, MSP Graham Simpson has said.
In Lanarkshire, 56 patients have been waiting for over a year and 354 patients have been waiting for over 18 weeks, which is the SNP’s Government’s target time.
Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson says that the figures are only likely to get worse with the effects of lockdown and has called on the SNP to urgently give NHS Lanarkshire the resources they need.
Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland said:
“These are truly unacceptable figures and show the urgent need to properly tackle this mental health crisis Scotland’s youngsters are in the grip of.
“Even before the pandemic, the SNP were routinely missing waiting time targets by significant margins and that is only getting worse with the effects of lockdown.
“SNP Ministers must urgently give our health boards the resources they need in order to ensure our vulnerable young people can be treated as quickly as possible.
“56 vulnerable young patients waiting over a year for treatment from NHS Lanarkshire is completely unacceptable.”
