mental state as physical health. Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Holyrood election, the Royal College say the current system is in crisis and that they’re prepared to work with all parties to improve services.

I’ll spare you full detail of the supposed current failures.

Here’s why this is just another trade union sharing the same interests as BBC Reporting Scotland, undermining the SNP Government at this, for them, perfect time, is not true.

Crisis in performance? Nope, see:

Psychological therapies – 82.1% of people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral to narrow gap for second quarter

Crisis in staffing? Nope, see:

From BBC Scotland in 2024 from the Royal College themselves:

The cost of bringing in locum psychiatrists on emergency contracts to treat mental health patients in Scotland has soared, according to new figures. Dr Jane Morris, chairwoman of the RCP, said the increased cost of the reliance on locums was “stark and very concerning”. She said: “I think the whole agency locum question is a reflection of a real crisis in the Scottish psychiatric workforce. There simply aren’t enough of us. The number of whole-time equivalent NHS psychiatrists has dropped from 781 in March 2019 to 651 in March this year.

With 10 times the population, even to match the Scottish ‘crisis’, NHS England would need 6 510.

There were only 4 466.

So, NHS Scotland has 2 044 more, 46% (of 4 466) more, per head.

Source: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-features/latest-news/detail/2023/05/25/royal-college-of-psychiatrists-calls-for-urgent-publication-of-nhs-workforce-plan-as-psychiatrist-numbers-stagnate