Latest news with #CAMHS
Scotsman
a day ago
- Health
- Scotsman
'Morally repugnant': Inside a mother's desperate battle for NHS mental health treatment for her son
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A mother of two autistic children has claimed it is an 'open secret' that children cannot get NHS mental health treatment unless they are actively trying to kill themselves. Her eight-year-old son, who is also non-verbal, ended up in accident-and-emergency (A&E) four times in the past year. He has been referred to NHS Ayrshire and Arran's child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) by the A&E department, his GP and his school - but all requests have been rejected. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Liberal Democrats say they have also been told children with autism and ADHD are being 'systemically excluded' from accessing CAMHS. More than 7,000 children are currently using mental health services in Northern Ireland. The child's mother, who did not wish to be named, said this was a 'scandal' and 'morally repugnant'. She said she had ended up having to rely on family members to pay for private treatment. Speaking to The Scotsman, the mother said: 'He has had so many referrals to CAMHS all saying 'please help this child', but we keep getting turned down. 'The more I speak to other autistic parents, the more this seems to be a pattern if they are struggling with suicidal ideation. There is an open secret - CAMHS are not accepting anyone unless they've actively tried to kill themselves. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is ridiculous. It is not acceptable for so many kids to be left behind when they are in such trouble. It is a scandal and morally repugnant.' Last year 754 CAMHS referrals were rejected by NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Of these, 428 had been referred because of 'ADHD, ASD, ADD, FASD, LD, Asperger's or neurodevelopmental assessment'. Official figures published in March showed 90 per cent of young people had started treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland has stressed there are no routinely published figures for the number of children on separate lists waiting to be assessed for neurodevelopmental conditions. The organisation has previously called on the Scottish Government to be more transparent. The family who spoke to The Scotsman ended up paying for private treatment with financial help from grandparents. The initial assessment cost more than £700 and every three-month appointment was another £250. The child's mother said the private treatment was benefiting her son, which she said had showed he should have had his CAMHS referrals accepted. She said: 'Not everyone has the resources to go private and I have spoken to other parents who haven't been able to do this. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I want to see CAMHS helping children, it is as simple as that. My son is my first priority and I want to be able to help them without paying an arm and a leg for it.' NHS Ayrshire and Arran said it had achieved its treatment target of 100 per cent. However, the health board said CAMHS only accepted referrals for neurodevelopmental assessments where the child also had a 'clearly defined and treatable mental illness'. Caroline Cameron, director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care, said: 'In line with Scottish Government recommendations, CAMHS now only accept referrals for neurodevelopmental assessments for those children and young people who have met the CAMHS criteria of having co-occurring mental health needs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The service has developed the neurodevelopmental CAMHS team specifically to provide assessment and diagnosis for children and young people whose neurodevelopmental disorder co-exists with a clearly defined and treatable mental illness.' She said new guidance was published in September 2021 for neurodiverse children who were referred to CAMHS, but said often these children 'do not always meet the mental health criteria'. Ms Cameron added: 'We are unable to comment on specific cases, however, would encourage any individual or guardian to contact services directly if not satisfied with the level of care and support or information provided by a service.' Opposition politicians in Holyrood said the blame for this lies squarely at the SNP's door. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'GPs and campaigners have told me that kids with neurodiversity issues like autism and ADHD are being systemically excluded from accessing CAMHS. Alex Cole-Hamilton is MSP for Edinburgh Western 'If your kid broke their arm, you'd expect them to be seen the same afternoon. But faced with mental health or neurodiversity conditions, they might face a wait that stretches into the years if they can get care at all. 'The NHS is supposed to be free at the point of need, but for those families it simply isn't there. That's the result of years of SNP neglect.' Mr Cole-Hamilton added: 'Scottish Lib Dems led the charge in getting the Scottish Parliament to declare that there is a mental health crisis, despite opposition from the Government. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Since then, we've set out a detailed plan for ensuring everyone has access to comprehensive mental health support, including training more professionals in key roles, from psychiatrists to mental health officers. That's the services that Scotland deserves.' Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman, added: 'This heart-breaking case lays bare the real human cost of the SNP's mismanagement of our NHS. Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie | Press Association 'Children in desperate need of support are left languishing on waiting lists for months or even years on end, and in some cases they are being turned away from overstretched services altogether. 'It is a scandal that this family has been forced to go private to get their son the help he needs and it demonstrates that our NHS is no longer free and available at the point of need. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'A Scottish Labour government will turn the page on SNP failure and rebuild services so families like this can trust that the NHS will be there for them in their hour of need.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Young people to give advice on mental health care
Young people who have faced mental health challenges are helping with a new scheme in Sussex aimed at providing specialist care at home. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is "drawing on the experiences of those who have been through the system to try to improve outcomes". The former service users are helping to design the scheme aimed at treating some people at home rather than admitting them to hospital. Dr Anna Moriarty, associate clinical director of CAMHS, said: "What we're hearing from young people is they are keen to have an alternative to being admitted to hospital." She told BBC Radio Sussex: "They want to be closer to their family and friends and continue with their education. "We are continuing to adapt to increased demand on services. "This is enhancing our offer for young people with significant mental health difficulties." Evie, who was admitted into inpatients for six months, is helping with the Sussex scheme. She said: "Having a perspective from someone my age who has been through similar things to me would have really benefited me. "It is about how we can make the system better." Dulcie, another former service user, said: "People who are now in a better place can communicate with the professionals to improve outcomes for everybody. "I think it's good to use people who have used the services themselves as they know how it is from a first-hand perspective." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Campaign to protect mental wellbeing launched Mental health support and recovery service extended Children hearing voices given support in new study Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Young people to give advice on Sussex mental health services
Young people who have faced mental health challenges are helping with a new scheme in Sussex aimed at providing specialist care at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is "drawing on the experiences of those who have been through the system to try to improve outcomes".The former service users are helping to design the scheme aimed at treating some people at home rather than admitting them to Anna Moriarty, associate clinical director of CAMHS, said: "What we're hearing from young people is they are keen to have an alternative to being admitted to hospital." She told BBC Radio Sussex: "They want to be closer to their family and friends and continue with their education."We are continuing to adapt to increased demand on services. "This is enhancing our offer for young people with significant mental health difficulties."Evie, who was admitted into inpatients for six months, is helping with the Sussex said: "Having a perspective from someone my age who has been through similar things to me would have really benefited me. "It is about how we can make the system better." Dulcie, another former service user, said: "People who are now in a better place can communicate with the professionals to improve outcomes for everybody."I think it's good to use people who have used the services themselves as they know how it is from a first-hand perspective."
Irish Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Psychologist faces allegations of misconduct after substance misuse concerns
A psychiatrist obtained a post working with children and teenagers in Donegal at a time he had given an undertaking to the Medical Council not to practise in Ireland due to concerns over his possible misuse of controlled drugs, a medical inquiry has heard. Syed Zubair is accused of professional misconduct over failing to disclose when he took up a post as a registrar with Donegal Mental Health Services in September 2018 that he had already an agreement with the Medical Council that he would not practise medicine in the Republic. The undertaking not to practise had been given by Dr Zubair in May 2016 after the Medical Council was notified of concerns that patients might be at risk because the psychiatrist was allegedly intoxicated or under the influence of substances while working in the acute psychiatric unit of Roscommon University Hospital. The 53-year-old native of Pakistan did not attend a fitness-to-practise inquiry held by the Medical Council which opened on Wednesday. It is understood he is currently based back in Pakistan, although he has previously expressed a desire to return to Ireland to work. The psychiatrist, who qualified as a doctor in 1996 and first registered to practise in Ireland in 2007, is facing a total of 12 allegations of professional misconduct. Several allegations relate to his application for a junior doctor post with Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Donegal in September 2018 and declarations made after securing the job as well as his failure to comply with the undertaking given to the Medical Council not to practise medicine. Dr Zubair worked with CAMHS in Donegal between March 20, 2019 and July 5, 2019. The psychiatrist also faces five allegations that he wrote prescriptions for various drugs on stationary from Donegal Mental Health Services without permission under the name of another patient which he presented at various pharmacies in Letterkenny, Co Donegal in 2019, including on dates after he had ceased working with CAMHS. He is also accused of providing misleading and untrue information to the Medical Council when he informed the regulatory body in October 2019 that he was "stuck in Pakistan" and had "not been offered any promising job offer." Similarly, the Medical Council claims that Dr Zubair declared in his annual retention application form for registration in Ireland in July 2019 that he had not given any undertaking which would restrict his licence to practise which he knew was untrue. Another allegation relates to a claim that Dr Zubair inappropriately and dishonestly requested a letter from a Roscommon GP, John Keenan, in December 2015 to state that he had prescribed Diazepam for the psychiatrist when he had not done so. Counsel for the Medical Council, Eoghan O'Sullivan BL, told the fitness-to-practise committee that Dr Zubair had initially engaged with the Medical Council over complaints made against him in 2019 but had no further contact with the regulatory body since 2021. The former clinical director of Donegal Mental Health Services, Clifford Haley, gave evidence that he was contacted by a pharmacist in Letterkenny shortly after Dr Zubair had ceased working with CAMHS about prescriptions that bore his number and signature. A pharmacist with Boots Pharmacy in Letterkenny, Róisín McCaffrey, told the inquiry that she became suspicious about the prescription as the customer had appeared agitated while waiting for it and discovered from a colleague that he had behaved similarly previously. Ms McCaffrey said the customer became "fairly aggressive" and stated he was a doctor when she queried the prescription. Dr Haley said he could not find any details about the patient for whom the medicines had been prescribed. He told the inquiry that the prescription was for a benzodiazepine which he noted "should primarily be for short term use and very carefully monitored because obviously it's addictive." In reply to questions from Mr O'Sullivan, he said Donegal Mental Health Services had not been able to locate the psychiatrist about the matter. Dr Haley said he had made a complaint about Dr Zubair to the Medical Council because it was the first time in 25 years that a doctor had their prescriptions queried in such a manner by a pharmacist and he felt it was "not really proper behaviour" for a registered practitioner. The witness said he had also written to the local superintendent in Letterkenny garda station because he was concerned about possible criminal behaviour by Dr Zubair but he "never heard back from the guards." In reply to a question from the chairperson of the fitness-to-practise committee, Marie Culliton, Dr Haley said it would have been routine procedure for checks to have been carried out on the qualifications and registration of any doctor before being called to a job interview. "Nothing in the routine process of application showed any problem," he told the inquiry. Dr Haley said any restrictions on a doctor's practice would have been followed up "100 per cent" if they had become aware of anything. He said he presumed Donegal Mental Health Services "had faith in the process" and that Dr Zubair would not have been registered "if he hadn't met the criteria." However, the Medical Council's head of registration, Ann Curran told the hearing that to the best of her knowledge she did not believe the register at the time would have recorded details about a doctor's voluntary undertaking not to practise. The inquiry was adjourned and will resume on Thursday. In November 2019, a High Court judge expressed serious concern about defective procedures within the Medical Council which had resulted in Dr Zubair being employed by Donegal Mental Health Service without knowing he was precluded from practising medicine at the time. Mr Justice Peter Kelly said no prospective patient or employer of a doctor who, like Dr Zubair, had given an undertaking to the Medical Council not to practise medicine, had any way of finding out from the regulatory body's website that such an undertaking was in place.
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Psychiatrist faces 12 allegations of professional misconduct
A psychiatrist got a job working with children and teenagers in Donegal at a time he had given an undertaking to the Medical Council not to practise in Ireland due to concerns over his possible misuse of controlled drugs, a medical inquiry has heard. Syed Zubair is accused of professional misconduct over failing to disclose when he took up a post as a registrar with Donegal Mental Health Services in September 2018 that he had already an agreement with the Medical Council that he would not practise medicine in the Republic. Advertisement The undertaking not to practise had been given by Dr Zubair in May 2016 after the Medical Council was notified of concerns that patients might be at risk because the psychiatrist was allegedly intoxicated or under the influence of substances while working in the acute psychiatric unit of Roscommon University Hospital. The 53-year-old from Pakistan did not attend a fitness-to-practise inquiry held by the Medical Council which opened on Wednesday. It is understood he is currently based back in Pakistan, although he has previously expressed a desire to return to Ireland to work. The psychiatrist, who qualified as a doctor in 1996 and first registered to practise in Ireland in 2007, is facing a total of 12 allegations of professional misconduct. Advertisement Several allegations relate to his application for a junior doctor post with Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Donegal in September 2018 and declarations made after securing the job as well as his failure to comply with the undertaking given to the Medical Council not to practise medicine. Dr Zubair worked with CAMHS in Donegal between March 20th, 2019 and July 5th, 2019. The psychiatrist also faces five allegations that he wrote prescriptions for various drugs on stationary from Donegal Mental Health Services without permission under the name of another patient which he presented at various pharmacies in Letterkenny, Co Donegal in 2019, including on dates after he had ceased working with CAMHS. He is also accused of providing misleading and untrue information to the Medical Council when he informed the regulatory body in October 2019 that he was 'stuck in Pakistan' and had 'not been offered any promising job offer.' Advertisement Similarly, the Medical Council claims that Dr Zubair declared in his annual retention application form for registration in Ireland in July 2019 that he had not given any undertaking which would restrict his licence to practise which he knew was untrue. Another allegation relates to a claim that Dr Zubair inappropriately and dishonestly requested a letter from a Roscommon GP, John Keenan, in December 2015 to state that he had prescribed Diazepam for the psychiatrist when he had not done so. Counsel for the Medical Council, Eoghan O'Sullivan BL, told the fitness-to-practise committee that Dr Zubair had initially engaged with the Medical Council over complaints made against him in 2019 but had no further contact with the regulatory body since 2021. The former clinical director of Donegal Mental Health Services, Clifford Haley, gave evidence that he was contacted by a pharmacist in Letterkenny shortly after Dr Zubair had ceased working with CAMHS about prescriptions that bore his number and signature. Advertisement A pharmacist with Boots Pharmacy in Letterkenny, Róisín McCaffrey, told the inquiry that she became suspicious about the prescription as the customer had appeared agitated while waiting for it and discovered from a colleague that he had behaved similarly previously. Ms McCaffrey said the customer became 'fairly aggressive' and stated he was a doctor when she queried the prescription. Dr Haley said he could not find any details about the patient for whom the medicines had been prescribed. He told the inquiry that the prescription was for a benzodiazepine which he noted 'should primarily be for short-term use and very carefully monitored because obviously it's addictive.' Advertisement In reply to questions from Mr O'Sullivan, he said Donegal Mental Health Services had not been able to locate the psychiatrist about the matter. Dr Haley said he had made a complaint about Dr Zubair to the Medical Council because it was the first time in 25 years that a doctor had their prescriptions queried in such a manner by a pharmacist and he felt it was 'not really proper behaviour' for a registered practitioner. The witness said he had also written to the local superintendent in Letterkenny garda station because he was concerned about possible criminal behaviour by Dr Zubair but he 'never heard back from the guards.' In reply to a question from the chairperson of the fitness-to-practise committee, Marie Culliton, Dr Haley said it would have been routine procedure for checks to have been carried out on the qualifications and registration of any doctor before being called to a job interview. 'Nothing in the routine process of application showed any problem,' he told the inquiry. Dr Haley said any restrictions on a doctor's practice would have been followed up '100 per cent' if they had become aware of anything. He said he presumed Donegal Mental Health Services 'had faith in the process' and that Dr Zubair would not have been registered 'if he hadn't met the criteria.' Ireland Former deputy State pathologist found guilty of mi... Read More However, the Medical Council's head of registration, Ann Curran, told the hearing that to the best of her knowledge she did not believe the register at the time would have recorded details about a doctor's voluntary undertaking not to practise. The inquiry was adjourned and will resume on Thursday. In November 2019, a High Court judge expressed serious concern about defective procedures within the Medical Council which had resulted in Dr Zubair being employed by Donegal Mental Health Service without knowing he was precluded from practising medicine at the time. Mr Justice Peter Kelly said no prospective patient or employer of a doctor who, like Dr Zubair, had given an undertaking to the Medical Council not to practise medicine, had any way of finding out from the regulatory body's website that such an undertaking was in place.
