An update report on CAMHS services 2019

This report looks at the response of the relevant Health Trust and CCG to Healthwatch York's 2017 report on CAMHS. That report found: long waiting times for assessment and diagnosis; earlier diagnosis was needed to ensure parents and schools could better support children; there was a need for better joint working and commissioning and improved communication with private and voluntary sector service providers, and there was a lack of information about where else families could go to get support.

The report examines the feedback from Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust and NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group to the 2017 report. They had made improvements to the early intervention and prevention service, provided faster emergency appointments for those in crisis and improved means of communicating with services.

Healthwatch York also spoke to York Carers Centre to see if any changes were apparent since the initial report in 2017. York Carers Centre reported that they had been hearing positive feedback about the Single Point of Access service and more time efficient pathways. Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust staff had also participated in their online training. However, both York Carers Centre and Healthwatch York were still hearing about the lack of flexibility they experience from services; the lack of an outreach team during a crisis and long waiting times.