Meeting of the Parliament 14 May 2025
Our overriding focus is on ensuring that people get the right help and support and that that help and support is available for our young people, particularly in the education system. For many, that is best provided through a neurodevelopmental pathway and not CAMHS. I make no apology for seeking to ensure that our young people are directed to the most appropriate service for their individual needs. That approach is right for everyone—it is right for the people who need specialist neurodevelopmental support and it is right for CAMHS, as it can focus on providing the right help for young people who need the specialist mental health support that the service offers.
As part of our continued commitment to ensuring that the right support is available to our young people, the Scottish Government, in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, has undertaken a review of the implementation of the national neurodevelopmental specification, which sets the expectations for services across Scotland. That review provides an opportunity to reflect on learning and progress and it will inform improvements to support health boards and local authorities to deliver the specification.
There has been a significant rise in the demand for neurodevelopmental diagnosis in recent years. That has been experienced across the whole of the United Kingdom and by all services. Figures on the number of children who are seeking a diagnosis are not currently reported nationally or published. I acknowledge that work is needed to improve the quality of the data that we have on neurodevelopmental support and services and gain a better understanding of the levels of need and the support that children and young people currently receive. We are working to improve that.