Minister wants to reduce mental health service waiting list

The Health Minister admits his Department needs to reduce the waiting list for urgent referrals to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Those referred to the service currently face a 12-week wait for an assessment.

David Ashford told this month's sitting of Tynwald that the Department of Health and Social Care needs to get the referral times down, but also reassess the way cases are prioritsed to ensure those most in need are seen first.

The Minister hopes he'll be able to free up resources to look at the issue.

Last year, almost 600 people were referred to the service, an increase of 28% compared with the previous 12 months.