South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has welcomed an improvement in waiting times for CAMHS services in Dumfries and Galloway.

Statistics published last week for the quarter ending December 2022 have shown that Dumfries and Galloway surpassed the Scottish Government’s standard of 90 per cent of young people to commence treatment for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health services within 18 weeks of referral.

Colin Smyth said: “After deeply disappointing waiting times for so long, it’s encouraging that Dumfries and Galloway is showing such an improved figure compared to 2021, and I hope this continues.

“We must now concentrate on maintaining these figures and the local authority needs to continue to invest in the positive early intervention work with schools which the previous council administrations introduced. Any step back from this would be an utter betrayal of our young people.

“We are risking a lost generation of young people experiencing mental health issues unless we make sure we put in place the support they need.

“I want to thank all those staff in our NHS and other partners for the work they do. It is vital that the Government provides the resources they need.”