TIMES columnist and MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Liz Smith, has slammed the Scottish Government following the release of figures which show that almost 60% of young mental health patients in Fife have waited longer than the 18-week guarantee to get treatment.

The politician for the Scottish Conservatives, described the figure for those waiting for treatment at the end of June as 'shocking' and called on the Government to address the issue.

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Scotland) statistic, released by Public Health Scotland, show that 59.7% of young mental health patients in NHS Fife had to wait more than 18 weeks for treatment. By comparison, NHS Grampian had 17.5% waiting up to the end of June.

Commenting, Liz Smith said: “These figures clearly illustrate that the SNP Government took its eye off the ball on mental health long before the outbreak of Covid-19. They are failing some of the most vulnerable children and young people who require urgent mental health support.”

The Scottish Government announced in February that Health boards would receive new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) guidance which outlinds the level of provision that children, young people and their families can expect to receive when they are referred for help within the NHS.