The BBC has the story about today’s report that has once more highlighted how mental health services in Wales are still failing many children and young people. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, the Wales Audit Office, Estyn, and Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales have joined together to demand that the Welsh Government takes action on these services.
They say that despite some improvements, those aged 16 to 18 and the under-fives in particular are not getting the services they need. They want a national action plan to be drawn up within six months.
Despite the fact that this report has been drawn up by Government watchdogs after two years of detailed work, and that it has drawn on data from as late as August 2009, the Government’s initial response has been dismissive. The Health Minister wrongly claims that the report is out-of-date and does not reflect improvements that have been made in mental health provision.
However, further work by the Welsh Liberal Democrats has found that even the Government’s limited improvement to mental health services is being undermined by their actions elsewhere. In particular the decision to scrap the joint working grant will have a significant impact on provision.
The Welsh Local Government Association has pointed out that many councils are using this grant to bolster the under-funded and under-resourced Child and Adolescent Mental Health services: “Recent and imminent reports will again state that considerable improvements in services across Wales will be needed. Many of these projects involve education, social services, the NHS and voluntary sector. In one area the schemes straddles two councils, and the extended NHS and is linked to a redevelopment of a childrens centre.”
In Swansea funding for Mental Health rehabilitation and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services will be cut by as much as £171,000 this year. The cuts are predicted to result in reduced staffing and an impact on the support to looked after children with mental health needs. These are exactly the services today’s Audit report identifies as needing resource and improvement.
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