In Gloucestershire, over 620 children and teenagers are currently on a waiting list for essential mental health care, and some have been waiting for more than two years for assistance. Civic leaders have expressed deep concerns, particularly for the well-being of children between the ages of four and eleven, who have endured significant hardships since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councillor Collette Finnegan raised the issue with health officials, seeking insight into the measures being taken to address this critical situation. Gloucestershire NHS health administrators acknowledge the gravity of the issue and are actively working to make improvements.
According to Ms. Finnegan, the waiting list for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) ranges from 18 months to two years, and she emphasized the suffering endured by numerous young children during the pandemic.
Douglas Blair, the CEO of Gloucestershire Health and Care Foundation Trust, addressed these concerns during a committee meeting. He noted that while the total waiting list has diminished since the beginning of the year, there are still 627 children awaiting care, with 60% of them waiting for less than a year and 40% waiting for over a year. Despite ongoing challenges, Mr. Blair expressed confidence in the progress being made.
The trust has experienced a substantial increase in demand for mental health services and has taken steps to expand its workforce in response. Additional mental health support has been introduced in schools, utilizing available resources. Although the core child and adolescent mental health service has seen a reduction in its total staff during the year, the situation is gradually improving, with around 70% of positions filled and an additional 16% in the recruitment pipeline.
In light of these concerns, local councillors have decided to establish a task and finish group to further investigate the matter and seek solutions to alleviate the strain on children and teenagers awaiting mental health care.
