Mental health leads have called for a radical overhaul of child and adolescent mental health services, warning the increased pressure on specialist inpatient services is affecting GP referrals.
Experts on mental health from CCGs and local authorities called for changes in the way CAMHS are designed, commissioned and delivered at an event organised by NHS Clinical Commissioners last week.
Speakers said CAMHS needed more funding to give mental health parity of esteem with physical health.
They also called for an end to age-based cut-offs to determine young people’s access to mental health services, and for barriers between different agencies to be broken down.
The recommendations are being submitted to the ongoing Commons health committee enquiry on CAMHS.
