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Waiting Times and Their Impacts
At the meeting, Cllr Nicola Gribble (Independent, Renhold & Ravensden) raised concerns regarding the extended waiting periods for CAMHS assessments. Dr. Alex Cooper-Bastien, consultant clinical psychologist and psychological therapies lead for North Bedfordshire CAMHS, acknowledged the severity of the situation, particularly highlighting the prolonged waiting times for autism assessments.
"The waiting times for an autism assessment are really long," Dr. Cooper-Bastien said. She further explained that while there are specific targets for eating disorders, which result in shorter waiting times for those cases, children in crisis are prioritised and seen urgently.
Dr. Cooper-Bastien elaborated that there isn't a single waiting time applicable across all services. "Usually, what happens for our core services is that children will get assessed very quickly – so within a few weeks," she said. However, delays often occur depending on the availability of the required services post-assessment.
Challenges Faced by Clinicians
Dr. Cooper-Bastien mentioned that sometimes larger groups of young people with similar needs might be seen slightly faster if group sessions can be organised. Nevertheless, the overarching complaint from parents and families remains the lengthy waiting periods.
"It's really difficult for parents and families waiting," she admitted. The weight of these waiting lists also falls heavily on the shoulders of clinicians who are continuously evaluating and prioritising who needs immediate attention. "We’re constantly looking at waiting lists to determine who we need to pick up next, who we are most concerned about," she added.
The clinicians experience significant stress due to this prioritisation process. "Sometimes it’s a real source of stress for clinicians as well. They feel the burden of that responsibility of the decision-making of who gets seen next."
Balancing Act of Providing Care
One of the toughest challenges faced by clinicians is the necessity to close a case in order to accommodate another patient from the waiting list. "There’s always that human element to it; if you're going to pick up another young person for therapy from the waiting list, you usually have to close somebody else," Dr. Cooper-Bastien explained.
This balancing act often results in sleepless nights for clinicians. "Maybe that person isn’t quite okay yet. These are really difficult decisions, and people lose sleep over it," she said.
Conclusion
The stresses associated with the extended waiting times for mental health services in Bedford are manifold, affecting all parties involved. While immediate solutions are complex and the decisions tough, the ongoing dialogue and scrutiny could be steps toward alleviating some of the pressures faced by the system, ensuring that young people's mental health needs are met more efficiently and compassionately.
