Young people put at risk by delays for treatment

More than 70 children and young people have been put at risk by long delays in treatment by mental health services in Kent and Medway, HSJ has learned.

According to a response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by HSJ, 205 harm reviews have been carried out for patients waiting for treatment following a referral to the North East London Foundation Trust, which runs the child and adolescent mental health services in Kent and Medway.

Of those, 76 patients, who had all waited longer than the 18 week target time for treatment, were found to be at risk of harm. One patient had to be seen immediately as they were judged to be at “severe” risk. Seven were found to be at “moderate” risk and 68 at “low” risk. 

The trust said “risk” meant a risk of harm to themselves or others. But it said none of the 76 patients had come to actual harm. 

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Source: HSJ, 25 February 2020