Help Talking-up Scotland keep going

Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going

Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421

From Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times Quarter ending June 2026 Published01 September 2026 (Latest release), the above and:

90.9% of people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, which is a decrease from 91.2% for the previous quarter and a decrease from 91.8% for the same quarter ending June 2025. The Scottish Government standard states that 90% of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS. The chart below shows performance in relation to this target over the past 4 years, illustrating the target was first achieved in quarter ending December 2024.

4,006 people were recorded as having started treatment in CAMHS. This is an increase of 3.8% (148) from the 3,858 people reported as starting treatment in the previous quarter and an increase of 1.3% (53) from the 3,953 patients who were reported as having started treatment in the quarter ending June 2025. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhs-waiting-times/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhs-waiting-times-quarter-ending-june-2026/

How does this compare with England?

England does not apply the same 18-week “start of treatment” target to community CAMHS. A proposed 4-week standard exists but remains experimental and is not formally in force.

Children’s Commissioner analysis of 2024–25 data: more than 1 million children had an active referral during the year; 35% were still waiting at year-end; more than 60,000 had waited over two years; median wait for those who received treatment was 35 days, but overall median (including those still waiting) was 128 days. * https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs/press-notice-over-a-million-children-referred-to-mental-health-services-with-highest-annual-referrals-as-demand-rises-faster-than-systems-can-respond/

Bearing in mind the limits NHS England seems to be hitting only 65% with 35% still waiting at year-end.

In short, Scotland is currently delivering most CAMHS treatment starts within its 18-week standard and has a comparatively small waiting list. England shows higher absolute demand, a much larger open-referral caseload, and a substantial proportion of children facing waits measured in many months or years. Direct like-for-like percentages are limited by the different metrics, but the Scottish data indicate more consistent delivery against a defined treatment-start target. https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs/press-notice-over-a-million-children-referred-to-mental-health-services-with-highest-annual-referrals-as-demand-rises-faster-than-systems-can-respond/

Help Talking-up Scotland keep going

Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going

Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421