SNP failing young people on mental health target
Follow Tory Hoose on Twitter. Read more from this authorMary Scanlon MSP, Scottish Conservative Health Spokesperson, had discovered that in 2011 the SNP Scottish Government was still not meeting a recommendation – set in 2005 – to have 60 psychiatric inpatient places for young people in Scotland.
Speaking on the issue Mary stated:
“Six years ago a working group recommended that there should be 60 psychiatric inpatient places across Scotland but in 2011, after an entire term of SNP government and at the start of their second session, there are only 42 places with a business case being developed for an additional six beds in Dundee to cover the North of Scotland.
“While the extra places for the North are welcome it raises serious questions about the SNP’s commitment to young people with mental health problems if they have ignored the recommendation of the Inpatient Working Group. This group clearly felt in 2005 that the number of places needed in Scotland was 60 and am I sure they will be disappointed that six years on we are only two thirds of the way towards this target.
“Young people suffering with mental health problems need the right treatment at the right location and quite simply the SNP are not providing this.”
