Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made on the number of children on wait lists for treatment at CAHMS.

No specific assessment has been made as a national access and waiting times standard for child and adolescent mental health services has not yet been defined.

NHS England consulted on the definition and introduction of five proposed waiting time standards, including for children, young people and their families/carers, presenting to community-based mental health services to receive care within four weeks of referral. This may involve immediate advice, support or a brief intervention, help to access another service, commencing a longer-term intervention or agreement about a patient care plan or a specialist assessment. We are working with NHS England on the next steps following the conclusion of the consultation.