Local CCG one of just three in GM to consider mental health of children under NHS changes

Photo: NSPCC

An estimated 64,462 children who have been abused or neglected are living in an area with inadequate plans for their mental health needs

The local Clinical Commissioning Group for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR CCG) is one of the only CCG’s in Greater Manchester to recognise and incorporate the needs of vulnerable children into planning of mental health service provision, according to NSPCC research.

The findings come as the NSPCC suggests over 64,400 abused or neglected children cared for under by NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s), could be side-lined by mental health services as a result of changes being introduced by the NHS.

An estimated 64,462 children who have been abused or neglected are living in an area with inadequate plans for their mental health needs, or with no plans for their care at all, in Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Wigan and Manchester.

Only three CCG’s were rated by the NSPCC as having recognised the needs of vulnerable children, incorporating these needs into planning of mental health service provision: Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Tameside and Glossop, and Trafford.

Existing evidence shows that children who have been abused or neglected are more likely to develop mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders or PTSD.

The charity is now calling on NHS England to set out how it will prioritise the needs of vulnerable children and for more transparency over how mental health services commissioning decisions are made.

HMR CCG was contacted for comment.