Correspondence regarding Scottish Parliament Inquiry - CAMHS data: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
All information upon which the following assertions made by the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing to the Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2025 were based, including but not limited to evidence, data, records of opinion, meeting notes, internal and external correspondence:
- “The improvements in CAMHS waiting times are the result of significant and sustained investment by this Government in mental health services and of hard work by our CAMHS workforce.”
- “I make it crystal clear that that is categorically not the case [that children are being moved off waiting lists to meet the CAMHS waiting times target].”
- “CAMHS is a specialist mental health service for children and young people who are experiencing significant mental health problems.”
Response
All points (1-3)
Please see Annex A to this response for a copy of correspondence and Annex B for a copy of documents relating to this. Exemptions under s.30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views) of FOISA apply to some of information requested because it contains dialogue in regards to the content of the statement prior to finalisation, and it is judged that it's disclosure would substantially inhibit or prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs by discouraging open internal deliberation within public authorities, particularly during policy formulation. Exemptions under s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA also applies to some of the information.
Point 1
You asked for all information upon which the following assertion was made by the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing to the Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2025 was based including but not limited to evidence, data, records of opinion, meeting notes, internal and external correspondence:
“The improvements in CAMHS waiting times are the result of significant and sustained investment by this Government in mental health services and of hard work by our CAMHS workforce.”
The answer to this question is: The aforementioned statement was based on the following evidence:
- Since 2006, mental health spending by NHS Scotland has more than doubled in cash terms [£651m in 2006/07 to £1.49bn in 2023/24].
- In the last five years, the direct programme budget for mental health has more than doubled, from £117.1m in 2020-21, to £270.5m in 2025-26.
- Expenditure on CAMHS rose from £114.8m in 2022-23 to £134.2m in 2023-24, an increase of £19.4m or 16.9% - representing 0.82% of total NHS expenditure.
- We have exceeded our commitment to provide funding for 320 additional staff in CAMHS by 2026, increasing capacity for cases by over 10,000.
- ·We also have record numbers of staff, providing more varied mental health support and services to a larger number of people than ever before.
- CAMHS staffing levels have increased by 54.3% in the last decade of this Government (+531.4 WTE).
- Local CAMHS teams continue to respond well to demand, with 1 in 2 children and young people referred to CAMHS starting treatment within 5 weeks compared to 12 weeks pre pandemic (quarter ending March 2019).
Point 2
You asked for all information upon which the following assertion was made by the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing to the Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2025 was based including but not limited to evidence, data, records of opinion, meeting notes, internal and external correspondence:
“I make it crystal clear that that is categorically not the case [that children are being moved off waiting lists to meet the CAMHS waiting times target].”
The answer to your question is: this statement is based on the following evidence:
Public Health Scotland published the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Waiting Times Local Delivery Plan (LDP) standard definitions and scenarios guidance to support the collection of nationally consistent information, in order to monitor progress towards delivery of the standard.
This document provides NHS Boards with guidance and scenarios on when the clock starts and stops in relation to the LDP Standard to provide faster access to mental health services by delivering 18 weeks referral to treatment (RTT) for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) from December 2014. This guidance also makes it clear that: no adjustments should be made after the 18- week standard has been breached and; the clock should not be stopped after triage and can only be stopped if a patient is discharged.
Health boards are required to collect and submit aggregate data on CAMHS referrals, treatments and interventions to Public Health Scotland to enable monitoring of performance against the Waiting Time Standard.
Point 3
You asked for all information upon which the following assertion was made by the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing to the Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2025 was based including but not limited to evidence, data, records of opinion, meeting notes, internal and external correspondence:
‘‘CAMHS is a specialist mental health service for children and young people who are experiencing significant mental health problems.”
The answer to your question is: this statement is based on the following evidence:
Within Annex 1 (National referral pro-forma for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Scotland) of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: national specification, it is outlined that specialist CAMHS are for children and young people age 0 – 18th birthday with clear symptoms of mental ill health which place them or others at risk and/or are having a significant and persistent impact on day-to-day functioning.
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Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG