Jane Dodds Demands Detailed Timeline to Fix Child Mental Health Waiting Times

Responding to Welsh Government figures showing that almost 80 per cent of those waiting for a first appointment with Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (sCAMHS) are waiting over four weeks, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member Jane Dodds has demanded Labour provide fresh funds and a detailed timeline for when they will fix long waits for support.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader & Senedd Member Jane Dodds

According to the data released today (February 16) 77.9 per cent of those referred to SCAHMS are waiting over four weeks for a first appointment, a significant deterioration from the same period last year where only 52.9 per cent were waiting over the four-week target.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling on the Welsh Government to outline how it will urgently reduce waiting times.

Jane Dodds said:

“These figures are devastating. We know that waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are some of the longest in the health service and they’re getting worse rather than better. We should be treating mental ill health with the same urgency as we do physical health, but these statistics show we are nowhere near achieving that.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats have championed the cause of Wales’ mental health, having pushed for greater mental health funding during budget discussions with the Welsh Government, including an immediate cash boost to mental heath services.

“The Government needs to act. They must swiftly provide a detailed timeline and resources to clear sCAMHS waiting lists, not by parking kids on medication or other inappropriate interventions, but by ensuring children and young people have access to quality talking therapy near to where they live.”

Comments

Significant Gaps Remain in Welsh Government Building Safety Announcement

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed progress announced today in the Welsh Government’s building safety announcement but have warned significant gaps remain. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS and Cardiff Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Rhys Taylor addressing building saftey campaigners. The announcement given by Environment Minister Julie James MS confirmed that 9 property developers have now signed up to the Welsh Government’s “Developers Pact” agreeing in theory their responsibility to remediate buildings they constructed with safety defects. The announcement follows a lengthy campaign by leaseholders in the five years since the Grenfell Tower Disaster. However, three major developers are still yet to reply. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have stated that due to the Welsh Government’s failure to work with the UK Government on the Building Safety Act, they are left with little to no options to deal with the property de...

Jo Swinson: Serious talks on Lib Dem-Plaid election pact

The Wales BBC Report : The Liberal Democrats are "seriously in discussions" with Plaid Cymru to agree a pact at the next general election, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said. A poll is expected before Christmas because Boris Johnson's government has no majority in the House of Commons. The Liberal Democrats won the recent Brecon and Radnorshire by-election after Plaid agreed not to stand. Opposition MPs have twice rejected the government's attempts to trigger a general election, insisting they want to ensure the UK does not leave the EU without a deal at the end of October before they vote for an election. Conservative m Asked how that was progressing, Ms Swinson told BBC Sunday Politics Wales: "There are constructive discussions underway…but those discussions will take their course and announcements will be made as that happens." Speaking ahead of her party's autumn conference, beginning in Bournemouth this weekend, the Lib Dem leade...

Lib Dems Propose New Bill to Protect Welsh Farmers

The Liberal Democrats have proposed new legislation to protect Welsh farmers from being undercut by food trade deals that do not meet the UK’s environment and animal welfare standards. The plans, set out in a private member’s bill from Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Rural Affairs Tim Farron MP, would require the government’s Trade and Agriculture Commission to assess the impact of any new trade deal on UK farmers, and guarantee that MPs had the final say on trade deals initiated by the government. This would include an assessment of the impact of new trade deals on farming communities in each region and nation of the UK. Farron’s Bill comes after concern was raised by farmers unions and the Welsh Liberal Democrats that the Government’s new trade deal with Australia will not include a Welsh-specific impact assessment. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS and Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP Commenting on his...

Welsh Liberal blogs

Search This Blog