National Assembly for Wales

Children, Young People and Education Committee

CAM 09

Inquiry into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Evidence from : Practice Manager, Markham Medical Centre

 

 

 

The Committee is interested in hearing about

The availability of early intervention services for children and adolescents with mental health problems

1.

Comments:

At Markham Medical Centre we have found the service to be very inconsistent and over the past few months have had a few disappointments with the service stating by telephone if we were to send a written referral through re:patient self harming CAHMS would review and see the patient within 14-28 days, only to be informed by written reply after 28 days letter that the referral was not suitable.  This we have found unsettling as the only place for this 17year old to be followed up for specialty was CAHMS

 

 

Access to community specialist CAMHS at tier 2 and above for children and adolescents with mental health problems, including access to psychological therapies

2.

Comments:

 

 

The extent to which CAMHS are embedded within broader health and social care services

3.

Comments:

 

 

Whether CAMHS is given sufficient priority within broader mental health and social care services, including the allocation of resources to CAMHS

4.

Comments:

 

 

Whether there is significant regional variation in access to CAMHS across Wales

5.

Comments:

There is a clear urgent need for this service to be more available, re urgent cases.  My practice is within ¼ of a mile of a youth Support Centre for homeless 16 -24 year olds, and unfortunately a number of these are children requiring emergency attention.

 

 

The effectiveness of the arrangements for children and young people with mental health problems who need emergency services

6.

Comments:

In my recent experience the service is working on a diminished capacity in my area of Caerphilly and therefore can not accommodate us effectively.

 

 

The extent to which the current provision of CAMHS is promoting safeguarding, children’s rights, and the engagement of children and young people

7.

Comments:

?

 

 

Any other key issues identified by stakeholders

8.

Comments:

 

 

End