Care Opinion

No service or advice provided to us

Posted By SCAH

"No service or advice provided to us"

About: Mental Health & Learning Disability Services / Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

(as a parent/guardian),

Recently my daughter attended CAHMS in Ayr for her follow up after her initial appointment 1 year ago. 

Her mental health nurse told us that my daughter is clearly neurodivergent and that there are no longer any services to diagnose or treat her now that neurodiversity is no longer classified as a mental health disorder. 

I do not understand how a brain disorder is not classed as a mental health disorder. I also cannot understand why there are no services within the NHS to diagnose and treat these. They advised us that they could diagnose her there and then but that they are no longer allowed to do so. We left with the only advice being that we would need to pay privately to have her diagnosed and treated. 

I feel that CAHMS is nothing more than a front that looks like a wonderful service to the general public, then at the point of use you realise that there is no help or service at all and you are told to go private.

The GP is not interested and will not help as there advice is to attend CAMHS.

Her school nurse will not speak to her at all due to her having a referral to CAHMS.

Where are you meant to turn if you cannot afford to pay privately?

My daughter feels that she has been completely abandoned by the professionals that are meant to be there to help her when she has been brave enough to come forward and ask for help. 

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Responses

Response from Administrator, CAMHS Service, North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership last month
North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership

Submitted on 04/02/2025 at 11:52
Published on Care Opinion on 05/02/2025 at 10:16

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding your daughter's experience with Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). We are sorry to hear that you and your daughter have been left feeling unsupported.

We would really encourage you to get in touch with CAMHS directly to discuss your concerns and ensure that you are directed to the most appropriate service(s) for support.

If you are happy to do so, please contact us at 01294 323 425.

Update posted by SCAH (a parent/guardian)

I have contacted CAHMS repeatedly. As stated in my story they have told me to go private. There is no service. If no one can offer my daughter help with her mental health or neurodiversity you can admit on a public forum that there is no access to any services for these children. I find this absolutely appalling.

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