Child psychiatric services in Gwynedd at ‘crisis point’, warns MP

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been urged to tackle “serious failings” in the provision of child and adolescent psychiatry services.

It follows a North Wales MP raising claims that vulnerable children with complex needs are being prevented from accessing medication.

In response to concerns raised by Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts, the region’s health board confirmed that there are currently no consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists working in her constituency, with five vacant posts yet to be filled and serious difficulties in recruiting locums.

Mrs Saville Roberts has taken up the case of Nicola Lewis of Blaenau Ffestiniog, who paid thousands of pounds for a private diagnosis of her eleven-year-old son’s neurological condition, after years on the NHS waiting list.

She has now been told there are no consultant psychiatrists available to discuss and prescribe the correct medication which her son so desperately needs and has been quoted a further £900 for a private medical review.

The Plaid Cymru MP said: “I am alarmed to learn that there are no permanent child and adolescent psychiatric consultants providing care for young, vulnerable patients in my constituency, a situation further compounded by the health board’s inability to recruit locums to support the service.’

“This wholly unsatisfactory situation is preventing children and young people with complex needs from being assessed and treated, with many waiting years for an initial diagnosis before being told they have to wait even longer for a medication review.’

“Children and adolescents suffering from complex learning difficulties and associated conditions and who require timely access to treatment, are waiting months and years to be seen by specialist clinicians.

“This is evidently detrimental to their health and is unsustainable.”

She continued: “No family should have to fork-out thousands of pounds to get their child diagnosed and then face the same scenario to access the right treatment, especially given the added pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic on so many families.

“And no young person should be left feeling like they have no support, especially following one of the biggest health crises in living memory.’

“The health board and ultimately the Welsh Government Health Minister must act now, address these pressing concerns and reassure young people that their mental health needs will be sufficiently met.”

Dr Chris Stockport, executive director of primary care and community services at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “Providing the right support for children experiencing mental health problems remains a high priority for the health board, however, we are facing significant challenges with staff recruitment.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has also significantly limited our capacity to see patients due to space needed for social distancing and time needed for cleaning measures.

“We have one full time and one part time consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist working across Gwynedd and Anglesey, primarily caring for young people with issues such as low mood, suicidality and eating disorders.

“Although we have a number of different healthcare professionals supporting our consultants, six out of the 14 consultant roles available across the health board are currently vacant.

“Despite these jobs being advertised for some time, we have been unable to recruit to them permanently.

“This situation is consistent with a national shortage with over 2000 posts advertised each year, with around 45 new consultants qualifying each year in the UK.

“To increase our capacity in the longer term we are supporting already qualified doctors to undertake specialist CAMHS training.

“A junior trainee has recently started in the CAMHS team covering Gwynedd and Anglesey and a higher specialist trainee will be joining in August 2021.

“We continue to advertise for consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists and are working with external agencies and also will look to recruit internationally for suitable candidates to fill these positions.”