A DOCTOR has criticised York’s draft mental health strategy for failing to address key issues and not doing enough to help youngsters.

The strategy is being developed by City of York Council, Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust to focus on the best ways to help people with mental health problems from 2017 to 2022.

It sets out to focus on recovery and rehabilitation, improve services for young mothers and children and improve the services for people with learning disabilities.

Health bosses are currently gathering views on the strategy and have received a mixed response.

Dr Robert Smith, a consultant paediatrician with 24 year’s experience in York, said primary mental health workers who used to work closely with doctors and school nurses have been replaced with workers who lack training and communication has broken down.

He said: “From my perspective mental health service for children and adolescents are significantly failing to meet the needs of our local population. I see no co-ordinated approach to children with mental health conditions.

“I have concerns that decisions on health related issues are being made by people that have no understanding of the true issues that exist at the front line of the NHS.”

Kevin Sell, a co-chair of York LGBT Forum, said: “We have been completely ignored as there is not one single mention of the needs of LGBT people throughout the draft.

“Time and again at meetings and consultations we have spoken about the appalling mental health statistics relating to young LGBT people – significantly higher suicide risks than their non-LGBT peers.”

A spokeswoman for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said the Trust was working hard to improve children’s mental health services. This includes funding a new service which provides community care to children and setting up the crisis resolution home treatment service.

A statement from the Vale of York CCG said the draft was based on what residents had said was important to them, but they welcomed the feedback.

Eoin Rush, assistant director of children’s services at City of York Council, said: “A recent development by this partnership has been the school wellbeing service. Launched early last year, it helps further equip school staff to support children and young people with early or emerging emotional and mental health issues."

“We also launched the city’s all-age autism strategy last week to provide a cohesive and responsive approach to supporting autistic people and their families.”