A coalition of charities are at odds with NHS Grampian over mental health treatment targets for youngsters.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition highlighted figures in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Waiting Times in Scotland report which said only 61.3% of people were seen within a 18-week period and 76.6% within 26-weeks, as of June.
Mental health services for children and young people cover a wide range of conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, behaviour problems, depression and early onset psychosis.
Sophie Pilgrim, from Kindred Scotland, speaking for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition, said the group was “alarmed” by the Scottish Government figures.
“It is those children and young people requiring these services who are missing out, the most vulnerable in our society,” she added.
But a spokeswoman for NHS Grampian highlighted other figures in the report which showed that 94.2% of patients waited less than 26-weeks and 83.4% waiting less than 18-weeks.
“We are proactively targeting the longest waiting patients to ensure that resource is employed efficiently to meet the targets,” she added.
“Service capacity to see patients has been temporarily reduced due to staff vacancies but proactive steps are being taken to recruit permanent and locum clinicians.
“An action plan has been implemented to maintain the 26-week waiting target and to make progress towards the 18-week target.”
Public health minister Michael Matheson said Scotland was the only country in the world to have a waiting time target for child and adolescent mental health services.
“We are determined that all boards are able to meet the target, and so we are working with all health boards to establish what additional support is needed,” he added.