Debate contribution: Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists
Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on .
- MLA
- Mr Mike Nesbitt
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 1 October 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4562748
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank Mr Buchanan for his question. He may be aware that I have campaigned on mental health since I was first elected in 2011. I can celebrate some of the achievements — the mental health champion, the mental health strategy and enhanced awareness — but when it comes to waiting lists, it is not so good. I am keenly aware that all trusts are experiencing significant pressures as a consequence of increased demands on mental health services, including increased numbers of new referrals. It is not just about the numbers but about the increased complexity and acuity of the people who are presenting. Of course, there are also the well-publicised financial constraints and the significant workforce pressures as a result of increased vacancy levels. The trusts report that they are dealing with more complex presentations. As a result, people need longer treatments before discharge, and that is impacting on throughput and waiting times. There have been some improvements in the waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). However, the overall picture is that, although activity levels are increasing, the levels of demand are increasing more quickly. In addition, I know that trusts are currently involved in a number of innovative modernisation projects that, it is hoped, will deliver greater capacity for new patient appointments and swifter responses to referrals. It is of note that those projects are being taken forward in the absence of additional funding. In adult mental health services more generally, initiatives introduced across the region include the South Eastern Trust's recent implementation of a mental health liaison service at the Ulster Hospital, which provides rapid assessment and early intervention to people who present at the hospital with mental health problems. In the Southern Trust, referrals deemed to be of mild to moderate complexity are triaged through to the Steps to Wellness service that was established in October 2022.
315 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.88).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.88 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.93 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.07 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:21 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.