8. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Community Mental Health Teams

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:49 pm on 3 April 2019.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 5:49, 3 April 2019

Welfare reform—let's have that debate another day. But I'm more concerned about my constituents who cannot access treatment and support when they need it, Leanne.

Furthermore, turning to the delivery of healthcare, I wish to draw particular attention to the disparate and unequal provision of crisis care and out-of-hours services. This regional discrepancy is epitomised by Swansea, which offers a 24/7 emergency telephone point, compared to Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, which only run this service from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. And, I'll be honest, I don't have any provision in Aberconwy that I know of, or my constituents know of, after 5 o'clock. People, when they present, when they feel at their lowest ebb—it can be at 2 o'clock in the morning, it can be at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, it can be at 7.15 of an evening, and we do not have those services in place. We do need a 365 24/7 support system somehow in Wales.

The crisis relief situation is even more alarming for children and young people. In Cwm Taf and Cardiff and Vale, CAMHS crisis teams are available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, yet in Powys no services are available on the weekends or after 5 p.m.. 'What justifies this variation?' I ask the Minister. Surely, equality to access to services should be an endemic thread running through any service that he provides as a health Minister.

Indeed, regarding management, the Chamber should also be aware of the accommodation issues for high-risk young people. My colleague Mohammad Asghar really elaborated well on the problems that are being highlighted in the lack of recruitment of people in the Abergele unit, which sees people—and it also sees local authorities and health boards spending hundreds of thousands of pounds when we're perfectly well-equipped, in terms of equipment and the buildings in Abergele, but we don't have the trained, qualified staff.

In Aberconwy, the cancellation of mental health appointments at very short notice due to a shortage of consultant psychiatrists and other specialist advocates has adversely affected patients at Nant y Glyn and Roslin. And when you do present with a mental health issue, to suddenly have your appointment cancelled is the most debilitating issue in the world, it really is. When raised as a matter of concern, little heed is taken.

Now, I look forward to the forthcoming 2019-22 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan, but let this not be another delivery plan with ambitious targets and lots of words with very few actions. I would ask the Minister: please, concentrate on the needs of those with mental health issues across Wales, and let's be pioneers and champions for them, because they are a very integral part of our society.