Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Neurodevelopment Services queries: FOI release

Information requested

The following information in relation to CAMHS and neurodevelopmental pathways:

1. clarification on the current national guidelines regarding referral pathways and how these are being implemented across different health boards. Specifically in NHS Highland.

2. information on the current capacity of CAMHS to provide neurodevelopmental diagnostic services, including staff training, resource allocation, and any planned expansion of these services.

3. data on current waiting times for CAMHS appointments across Scotland, and detailed information on staffing levels and resource allocation within CAMHS. Specifically in NHS Highland.

4. a detailed breakdown of current funding allocated to CAMHS and NDAS services, and how this funding is being applied. I seek transparency regarding any additional funding plans to address the current crisis.

5. a detailed account of what funding is being applied to reduce the NDAS waiting list.

6. information on current avenues for systemic change regarding CAMHS and what advocacy groups are working to improve these services.

7. information on what independent review processes are available when there are concerns about systemic failures.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you have requested below. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we don’t have the information are explained below. Exemptions under sections s.17 and s.25(1) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested. A description of which exemption and why this applies is contained in a response to the relevant questions below.

1. I request clarification on the current national guidelines regarding referral pathways and how these are being implemented across different health boards. Specifically in NHS Highland.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Service Specification, published in February 2020, outlines provisions young people and their families can expect from the NHS. The specification sets out the minimum service standards to be delivered by all NHS Scotland CAMHS.

The National Neurodevelopmental Specification: Principles and Standards of Care for Children and Young People, published in September 2021, specifies the standards that all children’s services should follow to ensure access to support is effective and consistent across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is responsible for setting the overall policy direction of mental health services, and funding NHS Health Boards and local authorities to enable them to plan and deliver appropriate local services. It is for local NHS Boards and local authorities to decide how they implement these policies to ensure that their local population have the highest quality of care and treatment at the right time and in the right place.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for regarding the specific arrangements in Highland which are the responsibility of NHS Highland.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact NHS Highland at Nhsh.foirequestshighland@nhs.scot who may be able to help you.

2. I request information on the current capacity of CAMHS to provide neurodevelopmental diagnostic services, including staff training, resource allocation, and any planned expansion of these services.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because health boards are responsible for implementing Scottish Government policy, including decisions about staffing, resource allocation and planning of services.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. 

However, you may wish to contact individual health boards who may be able to provide this information.

3. I request data on current waiting times for CAMHS appointments across Scotland, and detailed information on staffing levels and resource allocation within CAMHS. Specifically in NHS Highland.

The information you have requested regarding CAMHS waiting times data is available from https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhswaiting-times/. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government does not routinely collect information about health board staffing levels or resource allocation. This is a matter for the health board.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact individual health boards including NHS Highland (Nhsh.foirequestshighland@nhs.scot) who may be able to help you.

4. I also request a detailed breakdown of current funding allocated to CAMHS and NDAS services, and how this funding is being applied. I seek transparency regarding any additional funding plans to address the current crisis.

Within NHS Boards, funding for individual services is drawn primarily from their headline allocation – which in 2025-26 will be £16.2 billion. In 2024-25, the Scottish Government provided a further £123.5 million to health boards to deliver mental health services including CAMHS and NDAS services.

The latest Public Health Scotland data on Scottish Health Service Costs, setting out costing and activity statistics for mental health (including CAMHS) for 2023-24 can be found at - https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/31629/nhsscotland-mental-health-expenditure-2023-24.xlsx. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the full information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact individual health boards who may be able to provide further information about funding applied to NDAS within allocations.

An additional £249,481 has also been invested in individual projects aimed at improving support and assessment for children and young people with neurodevelopmental concerns. The Scottish Government also provided £567,651 to the National Autism Implementation Team to support the implementation of policy priorities and actions outlined in the Towards Transformation plan particularly as they relate to autistic people and people with ADHD.

5. I ask for a detailed account of what funding is being applied to reduce the NDAS waiting list.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not the information you have requested. This is because decisions about how to distribute funding to deliver services are for the health board to make.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact individual health boards, who may be able to help you.

6. I request information on current avenues for systemic change regarding CAMHS and what advocacy groups are working to improve these services.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally, and responsibility for this lies with local authorities and health boards.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact individual health boards and local authorities, who may be able to provide this information.

7. I also require information on what independent review processes are available when there are concerns about systemic failures.

Concerns about health boards can be raised using the NHS Complaints Handling Procedure. Each health board will have a patient relations or complaints team and information about how to contact them is available on NHS Inform: https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/health-rights/feedback-andcomplaints/making-a-complaint-about-your-nhs-care-or-treatment/

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