National Assembly for Wales

Children, Young People and Education Committee

CAM 15

Inquiry into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Evidence from : Dr C Grantham GP

1.       Availability of early intervention services

· Limited

· Help lines to psychologists exist but only 1 day a week where I work

· 2ary care early intervention services very difficult to access

2.       Access to community specialist CAMHS at tier 2

· Limited

· Difficult to access

·

3.       Extent to which CAMHS are embedded within broader health & social care services

4.       Whether CAMHS is given sufficient priority within broader mental health & social care

5.       Whether there is significant regional variation in access to CAMHS across wales

6.       Effectiveness of the arrangements for children who need emergency services

· Emergency services are very difficult to access

· The time frame from referral to being seen is very patient unfriendly if referring for outpatient review which exacerbates mental health problems & adds greatly to the stress of the affected parents