CAMHS Waiting Times - Bexley
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are facing significant challenges both nationally and locally. Across South East London, demand for services has increased substantially in recent years. There are also difficulties in recruiting to some specific clinical roles within the CAMHS workforce due to national shortages of qualified staff. Unfortunately, these factors have both contributed to the development of long waiting lists for a number of our interventions.
At Oxleas NHS, we place great emphasis on providing responsive services and we understand that waiting periods can have a significant impact upon children, young people and their families/carers. We are committed to reducing waiting times across CAMHS and are implementing transformation plans across our services to help us achieve ambitious regional targets and our trustwide strategic priority of zero delays in accessing care. Our target is that no one waits longer than 52 weeks for assessment by October 2023.
In response to service user feedback, we are also developing the range and depth of support that is available while waiting for assessment or treatment from CAMHS. This includes making information regarding current average assessment waiting times available through our website, which will be updated monthly.
Assessment Waiting Times
The information provided below illustrates the average length of time those currently on an assessment waiting list have waited by the different clinical teams/pathways in our service. Waiting times can be influenced by a range of factors and it is not unusual for waits to differ greatly across teams/pathways due to the different needs of those we care for. Please contact the service if you are unclear which team/pathway you have been referred to. It is important to note that this data does not represent the projected or likely waiting time for new referrals.
If your situation changes or you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the service:
Tel: 020 3260 5200 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
If you require urgent advice outside of these hours, please contact:
CAMHS Crisis Line on 020 3228 5980 (Monday to Friday, 5pm to 11pm) or (Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 9am to 11pm)
Oxleas Urgent Advice Line on 0800 330 8590 (available 24/7)
If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child or young person, please contact 999.
