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| Services 'still failing children' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mental health services in Wales are still failing many children and young people, according to a report. | |
| Despite some improvements, those aged 16 to 18 and the under-fives in particular are not getting the services they need, it found. | |
| The report, by a number of health and care groups, wants a national action plan to be drawn up within six months. | |
| But Health Minister Edwina Hart said the findings are "well out of date" and do not reflect "wider improvements". | |
| The report is jointly published by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, the Wales Audit Office, Estyn, and Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales. | The report is jointly published by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, the Wales Audit Office, Estyn, and Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales. |
| It highlights that there is too much variation across Wales in the availability and quality of mental health services for children. | It highlights that there is too much variation across Wales in the availability and quality of mental health services for children. |
| REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS The assembly government to develop an action plan within six months of the report being published to address the issues identified around the availability and quality of servicesHealth boards and local authorities to develop local multi agency plans for implementing the priorities and targets in the national action plan The assembly government to commission the development of information for children, young people and their parents on their rights relating to child and adolescent mental health services and what they should expect from these services. The assembly government and other public bodies to introduce effective arrangements for managing and scrutinising performance, ensuring results are widely available. | |
| Among these, it finds there is no specialist mental health services in the community for the under-fives, that transition arrangements for transferring young people to adult services are not good enough, and that a number of practices, including placing children on paediatric or adult mental health wards, are putting children at risk. | |
| The report acknowledges recent improvements in mental health services for children, including expanding school-based counselling and introducing primary mental health workers who support professionals working with young children. | The report acknowledges recent improvements in mental health services for children, including expanding school-based counselling and introducing primary mental health workers who support professionals working with young children. |
| But it says it is unclear how policy should be implemented, with only limited support and guidance from the assembly government to organisations arranging and providing services locally. | But it says it is unclear how policy should be implemented, with only limited support and guidance from the assembly government to organisations arranging and providing services locally. |
| Auditor general for Wales Jeremy Colman said there had been some improvement in mental health services for children. | |
| These are very vulnerable young people Mandy Collins, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales | These are very vulnerable young people Mandy Collins, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales |
| "However, additional investment alone will not deliver the further improvements needed, and the assembly government should take the lead in ensuring that changes to the design and delivery of services, as recommended in this report are fully implemented." | "However, additional investment alone will not deliver the further improvements needed, and the assembly government should take the lead in ensuring that changes to the design and delivery of services, as recommended in this report are fully implemented." |
| Mandy Collins, deputy chief executive of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, said a national action plan was needed. | Mandy Collins, deputy chief executive of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, said a national action plan was needed. |
| "These are very vulnerable young people," she said. | "These are very vulnerable young people," she said. |
| "They have problems that expand from eating disorders to depression to more severe emotional issues. And really what we are finding is that the services aren't there for them. | "They have problems that expand from eating disorders to depression to more severe emotional issues. And really what we are finding is that the services aren't there for them. |
| "The other issue is that some of these children have got co-existing problems. They might have a substance misuse problem, they might have a behavioural problem. And sometimes those children are just not getting the services they need." | "The other issue is that some of these children have got co-existing problems. They might have a substance misuse problem, they might have a behavioural problem. And sometimes those children are just not getting the services they need." |
| Bill Maxwell, Estyn chief inspector said: "It is evident that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all children and young people with mental health problems have equal access to a good range of support from specialist educational psychology, welfare and school nursing services." | |
| Responding to the report Health Minister Edwina Hart said: "In addition to the improvements that the report highlights, both speed of access to services and staff numbers have increased in the last two years. | Responding to the report Health Minister Edwina Hart said: "In addition to the improvements that the report highlights, both speed of access to services and staff numbers have increased in the last two years. |
| Specialist in-patient care | Specialist in-patient care |
| "Waiting times for specialist services have fallen by almost 10%, with nine in 10 new cases seen within the target time. | "Waiting times for specialist services have fallen by almost 10%, with nine in 10 new cases seen within the target time. |
| "Specialist nurse numbers have increased by 15%, the number of clinical psychologists has more than doubled, and the number of mental health workers in primary care have almost doubled with specialist training courses rolled out for frontline staff. | "Specialist nurse numbers have increased by 15%, the number of clinical psychologists has more than doubled, and the number of mental health workers in primary care have almost doubled with specialist training courses rolled out for frontline staff. |
| "Improvements are also being made for patients requiring specialist in-patient care, backed by more than £35m assembly government funding." | "Improvements are also being made for patients requiring specialist in-patient care, backed by more than £35m assembly government funding." |
| Ms Hart added: "A new unit has opened in north Wales and interim improved facilities have opened in south Wales ahead of a new permanent facility next year." | Ms Hart added: "A new unit has opened in north Wales and interim improved facilities have opened in south Wales ahead of a new permanent facility next year." |
| Children's charity Barnardos welcomed the report but said a specific service for 16-25-year-olds' mental health is still needed. |