"Children's mental health services must improve" say Surrey Lib Dems

Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have expressed their concerns over the long waiting times faced by children and young people with mental health problems in the county.

Ahead of next week's Children and Education Select Committee, where the matter is due to be discussed, Cllr Chris Botten, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Children & Education, said:

"After the fury we expressed at the last meeting in November, I am shocked to see that for many children with mental health problems waiting times for assessment can be over 160 working days (this includes children in care) and for treatment, assuming some is deemed necessary, the wait can be between 10 and 75 working days.

"This shocking state of affairs is not going to be resolved by contract managers shouting at the providers - the fact is demand for these services is going through the roof and the services are underfunded.

"Children's mental health is in my view the greatest public health crisis nationally. A child who is self-harming or suicidal will be marked by such trauma for life unless they get urgent support. In Surrey they can't always get the support they need in a timely manner and that is not good enough for our children."

NOTES

The agenda for the Children and Education Select Committee meeting of 20th February 2018 can be found here (Item 6):

https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=641&MId=6139&Ver=4