Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Legal News

Welsh government reduces waiting targets for accessing mental health services (10 November 2015)

Date: 10/11/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Welsh government reduces waiting targets for accessing mental health services

The Welsh government has announced that the waiting time target for treating people experiencing mental ill health in Wales is being cut from 56 to 28 days to ensure faster access to treatment.

The Welsh government introduced waiting times for assessment and treatment by local primary mental health support services in 2012, under which people referred for a mental health assessment should be seen within 28 days. Following assessment, those who need treatment should receive it within 56 days.

However, the 56-day assessment to treatment target has now changed to become a 28-day target to ensure people have timely access to treatment.

The previous combined waiting time was 12 weeks.

Waiting times for mental health assessment and treatment in Wales are already more stringent than those in England – in April 2015, NHS England introduced a target that 75% of adults should expect treatment within six weeks and 95% within 18 weeks.

All health boards in Wales will be expected to show progress towards meeting this new target by the end of the financial year.

Announcing the changes, Welsh Assembly Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said:

“One in four people in Wales will, at some point in their lives, experience mental ill health. That’s why mental health is one of the Welsh government’s main priorities.

“Since 2011, we have made significant progress in improving the services, care and support available for people experiencing mental ill health in Wales,
with the introduction of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010.

“This announcement will help ensure timely access to treatment, ensuring people who need expert care and support receive the right services in the right place at the right time.

“Some organisations are already meeting or are close to meeting this new target. I expect other health boards to make progress towards meeting this tighter target by the end of March,” said Professor Drakeford.

Mental health funding in Wales has been ring-fenced since 2008-2009 to protect and enhance core services – the ring-fence was expanded in 2010-2011 to include specialist services and primary care spending.

This year, the budget for mental health services in Wales is £587m – an increase from £389m in 2009-2010. This equates to 11.4% of the total Welsh NHS budget – the single biggest area of expenditure.

Earlier this year, Prof Drakeford also announced an extra £15.6m would be invested every year in mental health services in Wales – taking the total investment to more than £600m.

The Welsh government says this will help make further improvements in a number of key areas, including child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and dementia care.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors
Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit hospitals and police stations to advise on mental health law – and in some cases may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is Spencer House, 29 Grove Hill Road, Harrow, HA1 3BN. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.