Over 620 children and teenagers are waiting for mental health care in Gloucestershire, with some waiting for more than two years for help. Civic chiefs expressed concerns about the suffering of young children, particularly 4 to 11-year-olds, since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The waiting list for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is between 18 months to two years, with the total waiting list standing at 627 people.
While the waiting list has reduced since the beginning of the year, 40% of individuals on the list have been waiting for over a year. Gloucestershire Health and Care Foundation Trust acknowledges the high demand for services and is working to expand its workforce and reduce wait times. A task and finish group is being set up to address the situation.
