MP raises concerns around children's mental health with prime minister
Bicester and Woodstock's MP has called on the prime minister to address the delays children and young people face when trying to access mental health support.
Calum Miller raised the concern during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, February 5, highlighting the waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Oxfordshire and beyond.
Mr Miller described how these delays are depriving children of the support they need, and directly addressed Sir Keir Starmer with a case from his constituency.
He said: "Agnes lives in my Bicester and Woodstock constituency.
"In 2019, when she was nine, she was referred by her GP to child and adolescent mental health services.
"Agnes has had to wait over five years for an assessment for the neurodiversity that has caused her crushing mental health problems."
Mr Miller explained how Agnes's father, Jim, tried to accelerate her appointment.
He said: "Last year, when Agnes's dad, Jim, sought to accelerate her appointment, he was told that CAMHS could not see her or prioritise her appointment, and I quote, 'unless Agnes is actively trying to kill herself'."
Mr Miller asked the prime minister if he would meet with Agnes, Jim, and himself to hear their story.
He also said Jim had asked him to raise the case because he wants to "ensure that no other child goes through the same experience as his daughter".
Sir Keir Starmer responded: "Can I thank [Mr Miller] for raising this issue in that way and to pass on to Agnes and Jim just how impactful what he has said is and how important it is that he continues to raise this issue, because far too many children and young people are waiting far too long to receive the mental health support that they need, and we're determined to ensure that more children and young people can access high quality mental health support in a timely manner."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: PA/James Manning) Shortages of funding and qualified staff in the NHS have led to a rapid expansion of the backlog for appointments in Oxfordshire.
The average wait time for an autism assessment within the CAMHS Neuro Developmental Conditions pathway is three and a half years on average, according to a report by Oxford Health NHS Trust.
Recent data from the children's commissioner found approximately one million children have active referrals for children and young people's mental health services in England in 2022-2023.
Despite this, nearly a third of these children were still waiting for support, while almost 40 per cent had their referral closed before accessing support.
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