HUNDREDS of children are still facing 'appalling' waits for access to child and adult mental health services (CAMHS) in Oxfordshire, health bosses have heard.

A report seen by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group last week noted that in August just 41 per cent of young people had their first routine appointment within 12 weeks of referral, against a target of 75 per cent. It was up from 30 per cent in July, when a total of 504 were recorded as having been waiting longer than 12 weeks.

Services are currently provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and a new contract starting in May next year will be awarded.

The trust does not perform worse than others in the UK in terms of waiting times but will need to prove it can transform services to address access issues and long waits.

The report stated: "There was an improvement in CAMHS performance both in terms of improved waiting times and decreased number of long waiters.

"However improvement is slow and the improvement plan agreed with the trust continues to be monitored monthly."

Delays are mainly down to recruitment problems, with the number of vacant whole-time equivalent posts rising from nine in July to 12.4 in August.

Young people waiting for more than four months have a phone call to reassess risk and check non-medical factors such as whether they are going to school.

OCCG chairman Joe McManners said: "The number is pretty appalling. The target is within 12 weeks, which is a long time for a seven- or eight-year-old.

"We will have some financial incentives in 2017 with the new contract so that hopefully outcomes will improve."

Do you know someone facing a long wait for CAMHS treatment? Email hsomerville@nqo.com