Mental health targets 'help improve care'

SETTING targets for mental health will help put the issue on a par with physical health, a leading organisation has said.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy in Edinburgh welcomes the Scottish Government's decision to introduce waiting times goals for a range of conditions, saying it would end the "postcode lottery" for care.

However, the organisation said there was potential for other, less common psychological conditions to be included.

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Adding mental conditions to the list of health improvement, efficiency, access and treatment targets - which include the likes of cancer and A&E wards - would also make health boards more accountable for the prompt treatment of mental health, the organisation said.

Its lead adviser for Scotland, Shane Buckeridge, said: "It is estimated that at any one time there are some 850,000 Scottish people with mental health problems, and until now it has been a postcode lottery in terms of what is available, leading to a huge disparity in service provision across Scotland.

"The new targets will hopefully ensure that all patients have access to the services they need in a timely manner."