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<p>Information on waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services is
not collected centrally. There is anecdotal evidence of increasing waiting times in
some areas. We do not know whether or not this is due to an increase in referrals
or the prevalence of mental health conditions but will be seeking further information
by commissioning a survey into the prevalence of mental illness in children and young
people.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NHS England and the Department have set up a
Taskforce to look into the complex system of provision and commissioning of children
and young people’s mental health services. The Taskforce is considering ways to improve
access and create services that are more responsive to children’s needs. Additional
funding this year is being invested into improving specialised, in-patient mental
health services for children and young people. This will help to fund additional bed
capacity and case management will also be improved.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>Achieving
Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020</em> announced improvements that will
be made to services for patients with emerging psychosis, including setting the first
ever waiting time standard in mental health from April 2015. It also sets out a longer
term ambition to extend waiting time standards across all mental health services by
2020.</p><p> </p>
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