A north-east MSP has called for assurances over the future of mental health services for vulnerable children in the north-east.
Last month, The Press and Journal revealed the Lowit Unit, based at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH), had been closed amid a shake-up of children’s services across the north of Scotland.
The unit, which supports children and adolescents with mental health conditions, now operates purely on an outpatient basis.
Now, Donside MSP Mark McDonald has written to Richard Carey, chief executive of NHS Grampian to seek assurances that the security of Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is being viewed as a priority.
The Tier 4 service is comprised of highly specialised services which treat severe and complex mental health disorders in children.
Mr McDonald said: “Following the announcement that the Lowit was to close, I immediately sought a meeting with NHS Grampian to raise my concerns about the potential impact of the closure on children and families in the north- east.
“I have now met with staff from CAMHS who have offered their reassurances that no patient who needs treatment will go untreated and that the most urgent cases are seen within 24 hours.
“I have written to Richard Carey to seek assurances from him that CAMHS is being viewed as a priority at an NHS Grampian level and that the service is given the maximum level of support possible to improve and develop the service.”