Scottish Labour pledge to ‘fix mess’ in NHS by tackling mental health crisis

Scottish Labour are pledging to “fix the mess” in Scotland’s NHS by tackling the country’s mental health crisis to free up frontline staff.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is set to announce plans that would see people in mental health crisis get specialist NHS support through a new emergency response service.

The service would be staffed by specially trained paramedics, nurses and mental health professionals, rather than with a police response alone.

Mr Sarwar said that people in crisis “are being let down.”

He said: “Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP and nowhere is that clearer than in mental health care.

“Too many people in crisis are being let down, too many families are left without the support they need, and too many frontline staff are working under intolerable pressure in a system that is not giving patients the right care.

“It means children on waiting lists for years, patients suffering when treatment is available and frontline emergency workers pulled away from dealing with other issues”

Scottish Labour’s plans include a new national neurodevelopmental pathway, community mental health professionals, expanded self-referral pathways through digital therapies and community walk-in services.

The party is also pledging support for children and young people on CAMHS waiting lists through dedicated community link workers in every CAMHS team.

Mr Sarwar continued: “I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

“A Scottish Labour government will put our NHS first and give mental health the parity of esteem it deserves.

“That means specialist emergency mental health care for people in crisis, community support in GP surgeries, better help for children and young people, and the right pathways for neurodivergent people so they are not left stuck on the wrong waiting lists.

“This is how we protect patients, support staff and free up frontline workers to focus on the care they do best.

“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”

The SNP have been approached for comment.