Long wait times for child mental health services

Many young patients in Blackpool have to wait more than four months for an appointment

Families in a coastal town are facing long waiting times to access child mental health services.

Figures show many young patients in Blackpool have to wait more than four months for an appointment

At the end of December 2023, 45% of the 285 referrals waiting to be seen had waited longer than 18 weeks.

The trust said difficulty in recruiting was partly the reason for the long waiting times, something that was now being addressed.

'Series of failings'

There has been a 9% increase in demand for Blackpool CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) over the last 12 months, with 5,097 appointments attended between April and December last year.

An NHS survey published last November found one in five children and young people in England aged eight to 25 had a probable mental health issue in 2023, with the knock-on effects of the Covid pandemic partly to blame.

Some Blackpool patients (44%) got an appointment in less than four weeks, which is better than the national average of 37%, according to figures given to a meeting of Blackpool Council’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee.

Coroner Kate Bisset recently concluded that a series of failings by CAMHS contributed to the death of Lancashire teenager Max Sumner, in May 2022.

The health trust said some of its care "fell below the standard we expect".

'Difficulty in recruiting'

Mike Chew, divisional director with responsibility for communities and families at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said that difficulty in recruiting the right professionals was one of the reasons for long waiting lists but that this was now being addressed.

His report said: “The service has struggled to fill vacant posts which has meant a depletion in staffing numbers for some time now.

“This is now an improving picture and we have now successfully recruited to most of the vacant posts, all successful applicants are awaiting start dates following completion of checks.”

Meanwhile people on waiting lists are directed to other services where necessary, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The report adds: “For those that are currently on our waiting lists, letters have been provided to all families letting them know who they should contact and when.”

Information includes which other services and helplines can offer support while “parents and carers can call our duty team to discuss any worrying changes in their child’s condition".

Two new members of staff have been recruited, enabling additional appointments at evenings and weekends to be introduced.

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