Wednesday, July 26th : The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has described the Mental Health Commission’s Independent Review Of The Provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) published today as extremely worrying but not surprising, and details a system that is failing children, adolescents and their families in accessing fit for purpose mental health services in a timely manner.
PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes, said the Review is extremely worrying but not surprising and further highlights the level of concern the PNA has been expressing for many years. The service failure it depicts in addressing the needs of young people and their families right across the country is echoed by PNA members on the ground who have been highlighting these concerns at every opportunity.
He said the number of red flags in the Review relating to all aspects of the provision of CAMHS, in recruitment, investment , management and oversight has to be the final wake up call for urgent action now to put properly resourced, staffed and managed CAMHS services in place that are accessible for every eligible child, and their family, in the country.
“As a union representing nurses at the frontline of CAMHS, PNA has for some years now pointed to the lack of investment and staff resourcing in the services. We have highlighted again and again the often-intolerable pressures and frustrations for those staff left to cope with vacancies and staff shortages. Today’s Review confirms how widespread and endemic these failings are across all levels of the services.”
“The Review confirms the need for an urgent workforce planning strategy for CAMHS together with a national targeted campaign to recruit and retain nurses in CAMHS.”
Media Contact : Derek Cunningham 086-2430535
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