Over 2,000 left languishing on NHS waiting list

Over 2,000 people from Lanarkshire are languishing on an NHS waiting list to see a psychologist.

- ANDREW QUINN

Freedom of Information Requests revealed that some 22,880 across Scotland are currently on a psychologist waiting list.

Dr Pavan Srireddy, vice-chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, spoke out against the alarming figures.

Dr Srireddy said: “While concerning, these figures come as no surprise.

“The unprecedented demand for services and critical gaps in the mental health workforce is already leading to unacceptably long waits for mental health care and treatment.

“Working on the frontline we see a postcode lottery of specialist mental health services across the country, but our patients deserve so much better than this.