Scotland's NHS boards are struggling to meet government targets for access to psychological therapies with some waiting over 1,000 days and, in one extreme case, 1,449 days before they were seen. The professional organisation for psychology is describing the situation as ‘unacceptable’.

Data released under freedom of information show Fife, Shetland, Tayside and Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS boards saw patients begin their treatment in the year 2021–22 who had been waiting over 1,000 days – more than two years and nine months.

On the day the data were calculated, Fife, Shetland and Tayside had people on their waiting lists to begin treatment who were referred over 1,000 days earlier, including one patient in Fife who had been waiting 1,482 days – over four years.

Dr Robert Morris, Co-Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Scottish Branch, called for much greater investment in psychology services:

“We are deeply concerned about the figures that show the unacceptable waiting times for people seeking mental health support and treatment.

“We know that the system was under strain before the pandemic, and that demand has only increased, leaving many people unable to access the support that they need.

“We need to see greater investment in preventative and early intervention services, to support people and prevent them getting to crisis point. As well as investment in services, there must be serious investment in the psychological workforce – we are facing a workforce crisis of untold proportions and are seeing first-hand the impact of this on patients.

“In order to achieve true parity of esteem between mental and physical health we need serious investment in both services and the workforce.”

The FOI request was made by the Scottish Liberal Democrats whose health spokesperson, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, says the delays are shocking:

“Patients cannot be put on hold for more than 1,000 days; their mental state will simply worsen with every day that passes.

“We need actions that will be met, not targets that will be broken.

“We need to put the experience of staff at the heart of recovery. That’s why my party has repeatedly called for an urgent new Burnout Prevention Strategy and a Health and Social Care Assembly that will listen to healthcare workers and take their views forward.

“Mental health services are under huge pressure. It is time for new hope.”

In a recent parliamentary written answer on treatment times for both adult and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart said the government is committed to meeting the standard that 90% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks of referral by March 2023, but has not set interim targets towards meeting that standard.

Mr Stewart stated:

“There have been obvious operational difficulties caused by covid-19 and the restrictions necessarily put in place over the pandemic. However, latest statistics for both CAMHS and psychological therapies published on 7 June 2022, for the latest quarter ending 31 March 2022, show that there has seen an all-time high number of children and young people beginning treatment for CAMHS. It is also the highest number of children beginning treatment within 18 weeks under this measure since quarter ending June 2016.

“It is also encouraging to see significant progress with psychological therapies waiting times with a significant decrease in long waits over one year and a decrease for those waiting over 18 weeks.

“This reflects the effects of the Scottish government’s improvement work with health boards and the additional investment – which is growing the workforce and reducing backlogs resulting in shorter waiting times and a better experience for individuals and families supported by our NHS.

“We are working with boards closely and will continue to monitor their performance against the waiting times standard.”

 

Read more: Call to include elderly in suicide prevention strategy; Government launches mental health consultation; A psychiatric hospital "ahead of its time".

 

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