More than 20 per cent of referrals to children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) were rejected in 2022, figures obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats show. Freedom of information data from Scottish health boards showed that out of 37,728 referrals to CAMHS last year 8,576 were rejected – some 22.7 per cent.

The proportion of cases rejected varied significantly by health board. In NHS Borders and Forth Valley, more than 40 per cent of cases were rejected.

NHS Glasgow and Greater Clyde, the country’s largest health board, had a rejection rate of 28 per cent. Referrals for CAMHS can come from GPs, schools or hospital A&E departments.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said Humza Yousaf should take action to improve CAMHS performance. Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “I was shocked to discover that as many as four in 10 young people are being rejected from mental health support services.

Want to see more SNP fails? – Politics Matters