21 November 2008
By Paul Dicken
A national advisory council is to be established to ensure the recommendations of a review of child and adolescent mental health services are implemented.
The National CAMHS Review, published on November 18, said there were numerous examples of approaches that were making a real difference. But, it added: 'Improvements in mental health and psychological wellbeing are still not as comprehensive, as consistent or as good as they could be.'
The review, chaired by Jo Davidson, group director of children and young people's services at Gloucestershire County Council, found 'unacceptable' variations between regions and local areas.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced the roll-out of the £20m allocated to phase two of the targeted mental health pathfinder for 2009/11.
Johnson said: 'The National Advisory Council will be the driving force for further change. Ed Balls and I have asked them for an update on progress in one year. I want to hear that services for children with mental health problems have improved dramatically in that time.'
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